Takashi Shimizu is to become the new president of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas, Inc. as Masaharu Yoshimoto retires at the end of this month.
“The tire industry continues to undergo change as we deal with today’s economic uncertainties,” says Yoshimoto. “Through this challenging period, what remains unchanged is our commitment to our loyal dealers and customer base.”
“My vision for the future is to increase the value of our six subsidiary companies, including Mexico and Canada,” notes Shimizu as he prepares to assume the top post.
“This will be accomplished through strengthening structures for corporate governance, by enhancing managerial systems and the completion of the approximately $300 million expansion of our manufacturing facility in Georgia,” he continues. “We will continue to enhance our positioning of both the Toyo and Nitto brands as suppliers of high quality tires.”
Shimizu joined the company in Osaka, Japan in 1985, and has served in the accounting, finance and planning departments. From 1993 to 1999, Shimizu was general manager of accounting and finance in Germany. He began his U.S. tenure in 2007 as vice president and CFO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., moving on to play a significant role in the establishment of the holdings division, serving as senior vice president and CFO since its inception in 2008.
Yoshimoto is capping off a 38-year career with Toyo in the U.S., Japan and Australia, where he was managing director and CEO of Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia, Ltd. In 2005, Yoshimoto was appointed senior vice president of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., later becoming its president and CEO. A senior corporate officer of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd, he was appointed president of the holdings unit in January of last year.
For more information, visit www.toyotires.com and www.nittotire.com.
