PLANO, Texas (December 10, 2020) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announces executive changes to its operations, effective January 4, 2021.

Toshio Niimi, currently general manager at Toyota Motor Corporation’s (TMC) plants in Honsha and Kinuura, Japan, will take on the new role of executive vice president, Production Engineering and Manufacturing, TMNA. Niimi will have responsibilities for all aspects of Toyota’s North American production engineering operations and 15 manufacturing vehicle, engine and parts plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, including its joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021. He also will serve on TMNA’s North American Executive Committee and report to Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa, President and CEO, TMNA.

Tadahisa Isono, current executive vice president, Production Engineering, will return to TMC as chief project leader of Global Rebuild Plan and Sustainable Development Goals in the Production Group. In his new role, Isono will oversee Production Engineering in Advanced R&D and Engineering Company, Toyota Compact Car Company, Mid-size Vehicle Company, Commercial Vehicle Company, and Lexus International Company. Isono joined Toyota’s North American manufacturing company in January 2015 as senior vice president, Production Engineering. In his six years of service in North America, he also served as executive vice president, Manufacturing, TMNA.

Lisa Materazzo, who currently serves as vice president of Lexus Marketing, TMNA, is being promoted to group vice president, Toyota Marketing. Materazzo replaces Ed Laukes, who announced his retirement in November. In this role, Materazzo will have responsibilities for all Toyota division market planning, advertising, merchandising, sales promotions, incentives, NASCAR and motorsports, and all social and digital media. Materazzo joined Toyota in 1998 and has held a variety of marketing-related roles including vice president, Vehicle Marketing and Communications, and corporate manager, Media Strategy and Digital Engagement. She will report to David Christ, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division, TMNA.

Tom Stricker, who currently serves as vice president of Product Regulatory Affairs, TMNA, is being promoted to group vice president, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs. In this role, Stricker will have responsibilities for Toyota’s U.S.-based environmental sustainability and regulatory affairs, motor vehicle safety regulations and enterprise chemical management. Stricker’s team also will provide technical support for Toyota’s legislative affairs and media relations.

Stricker joined Toyota in 2001 and has held a variety of positions in policy, environmental and regulatory affairs. He will report to Sandra Phillips Rogers, group vice president, general counsel & chief legal officer, and chief diversity officer, TMNA.

Monte Kaehr, who currently serves as the Toyota Sienna chief engineer, TMNA, is being promoted to group vice president, Advanced Mobility Research & Development. In this role, Kaehr will have responsibilities for technical strategy and planning of advanced mobility solutions. Kaehr joined Toyota in 1992 as a design engineer in Japan and moved to Toyota’s North American Research & Development division in 1998 where he progressed through a series of positions in Body Engineering and Product Development. He also previously served as the Toyota Camry chief engineer for the North America region. Kaehr will report to Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president, Research & Development, TMNA.

Jeff Makarewicz, who currently serves as group vice president, Advanced Mobility Research & Development, TMNA, is assigned as group vice president and executive advisor, Research & Development and Corporate Strategy & Planning. Makarewicz joined Toyota research and development in 1990 as an engineer in the Materials Engineering Department and has held various positions in the areas of corporate strategy, product planning, research, design, development and evaluation. Makarewicz will report to Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president, Research & Development, TMNA.

Edward Mantey, who currently serves as executive advisor Research & Development and Corporate Strategy & Planning, TMNA, is retiring after more than 29 years of service, effective January 29, 2021. Mantey joined Toyota in 1991 with responsibility for overseeing the structural evaluations of products developed in North America. From 1996 to 2000, Mantey held the position of executive engineer for Development, Planning and Operations where his responsibilities included the position of chief engineer for the 2000 Model Year Avalon. Prior to his current assignment, Mantey was senior vice president of the Product Development Office.

John Kennelly, who currently serves as group vice president, One Toyota Competitiveness, TMNA, is retiring after more than 16 years of service, effective January 29, 2021. Kennelly has been leading the One Toyota efforts to integrate the business process and systems for Toyota’s legacy Sales, Manufacturing, and Engineering organizations. He also has been instrumental in the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Application across Toyota’s North American Operations.