Toyota Australia confirms top-end management changes in shift to import business

Toyota Australia has announced a number of changes to its 2018 team, with key leadership saying their goodbyes at the end of this year.

Those will include current president, Dave Buttner, along with sales and marketing director Tony Cramb – both major figures in the business and familiar identities in the industry.

“The departing executive team have a key role to play for the remainder of the year. Not only will they continue in their current role,” Toyota Australia Chairman, Max Yasuda, said.

Although Toyota has offered no word on where the current executive team are headed, a spokesperson for the brand confirmed today that none will continue with Toyota Australia directly. Roles within the global Toyota business may await, however.

From 2018, Toyota Australia leadership will see current vice president Matt Callachor in the president and CEO role.

Three vice president positions have also been confirmed: Mike Rausa (product and support, previously corporate services), Sean Hanley (national operations, previously division manager for sales, and Lexus CEO before that), Evan Tsirogiannis (regional operations, continued role).

Lexus CEO Peter McGregor will also move on at the end of 2017. Former divisional sales manager Scott Thompson will return to take over the CEO role, after a two-year posting with Toyota Motor Sales in the US.

“All of these appointments will come into effect from 1 January 2018, which will allow a nine-month period for a robust handover,” the company said in a statement today.”

Toyota announced in early 2014 that it would shut down its Australian manufacturing operations in 2017, when, like fellow local manufacturers Ford (2016) and Holden (2017), it will become a full-import brand.

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