Johannesburg – Dr Johan van Zyl‚ President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors‚ has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Toyota in Africa as part of a major restructuring announced by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
The new position‚ which assigns all executive responsibilities to Van Zyl‚ will cover all aspects of the company’s automotive business on the continent‚ including product planning‚ sales‚ manufacturing and exports‚ Toyota said on Friday.
The changes in executive management follow the new strategic direction set by the Toyota Global Vision which was announced in March 2011. As part of the vision‚ the company calls for more “local initiative in management” and stated its intention of devolving strategic implementation to the various major regions.
Van Zyl’s appointment coincides with a major structural change at TMC on a global level. The company has announced that it will divide its operations into four distinct divisions that will be best suited to drive its targets for profitable growth.
The new divisions are: Lexus International (Lexus business)‚ Toyota No. 1 (North America‚ Europe and Japan)‚ Toyota No. 2 (China‚ Asia and Middle East‚ East Asia and Oceania; Africa‚ Latin America and the Caribbean) and Unit Center (engine‚ transmission and other “unit”-related operations).
Within this new structure and regional division Van Zyl’s previous position as Deputy Chief Officer of the Middle East‚ Africa‚ the Caribbean and Latin American region will fall away and will now serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Region.
He will also retain his responsibilities as President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors.
The new position‚ which assigns all executive responsibilities to Van Zyl‚ will cover all aspects of the company’s automotive business on the continent‚ including product planning‚ sales‚ manufacturing and exports‚ Toyota said on Friday.
The changes in executive management follow the new strategic direction set by the Toyota Global Vision which was announced in March 2011. As part of the vision‚ the company calls for more “local initiative in management” and stated its intention of devolving strategic implementation to the various major regions.
Van Zyl’s appointment coincides with a major structural change at TMC on a global level. The company has announced that it will divide its operations into four distinct divisions that will be best suited to drive its targets for profitable growth.
The new divisions are: Lexus International (Lexus business)‚ Toyota No. 1 (North America‚ Europe and Japan)‚ Toyota No. 2 (China‚ Asia and Middle East‚ East Asia and Oceania; Africa‚ Latin America and the Caribbean) and Unit Center (engine‚ transmission and other “unit”-related operations).
Within this new structure and regional division Van Zyl’s previous position as Deputy Chief Officer of the Middle East‚ Africa‚ the Caribbean and Latin American region will fall away and will now serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Region.
He will also retain his responsibilities as President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors.