US – Toshiaki Mikoshiba will become president and CEO of Honda North America, COO of North American Regional Operations and president and CEO of American Honda Motor. He will replace Takuji Yamada, who will continue to hold the title of senior managing officer until his retirement.
In addition, Tsutomu Morimoto will become president of Honda of Canada Mfg (HCM), replacing Dan Smith. Morimoto is senior vice-president at HCM. Gary Mabrey, currently senior vice-president at Honda of South Carolina, will replace Brian Newman.
Since 2014, Mikoshiba has held the position of COO of Europe Regional Operations and president of Honda Motor Europe. He is also a senior managing officer of Honda Motor. Mikoshiba joined the company in 1980, holding sales, marketing and product planning roles. He first served in Europe in 2008, as executive vice-president and director of Honda Motor Europe with responsibility for Eastern Europe, the Middle and Near East and Africa. From 2009 to 2011, he was president and director of Honda Motor Russia, then until 2014 president of Guangqi Honda Automobile in China.
Morimoto started his career with the vehicle-maker in 1984, on the painting line at Saitama Factory. After occupying a variety of positions at Saitama, Morimoto became assistant manager of the paint department at HCM’s Plant 2 from 1997 to 2003. He returned to Saitama the following year, taking a number of roles including manager of the frame assembly plant. In 2013, Morimoto became vice-president and plant manager at HCM, overseeing all aspects of Plant 1 production.
Mabrey joined the company in 1989, gaining experience in purchasing at Honda of America Mfg and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, including: supplier parts ordering and delivery management; supplier selection and sourcing strategies; and activities to support model launches. In 2012, he was named manufacturing division manager at Honda Indiana.
All appointments are effective from April 1, 2016.
