Toyota Motor Sales USA Announces Organizational Changes in Marketing, Sales, Service and Regional Operations

TORRANCE, Calif., March 31 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA, Inc. today announced executive promotions and development moves in various headquarters organizations as well as Toyota and Lexus field sales offices. The changes follow previously announced top-management appointments overseeing TMS' automotive operations and the Toyota and Lexus divisions.

TMS Headquarters

Nancy Fein, formerly general manager, Kansas City region, is promoted to vice president, Lexus service, parts, customer satisfaction and training, replacing George Christoff. Fein will report to Bob Carter, recently promoted to group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division.

Deborah Meyer, formerly corporate manager, Toyota marketing communications, is promoted to vice president, Lexus marketing, replacing Mark Templin. Meyer will report to Carter.

Jim Colon, previously vice president and general manager, Chicago region, is appointed vice president, Lexus sales and dealer development, replacing Mike Wells. Colon also will report to Carter.

Jim Farley, formerly vice president, Scion, is appointed vice president, Toyota marketing, replacing Jim Lentz, who was recently named group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division. Farley will continue to report to Lentz.

Dave Fleming, formerly vice president and general manager, New York Region, is appointed vice president, Toyota sales, replacing Carter. Fleming will report to Lentz.

Mark Templin, formerly vice president, Lexus marketing, is appointed vice president, Scion, replacing Jim Farley. Templin will report to Lentz.

Bob Waltz, formerly vice president and general manager, Cincinnati region, is appointed vice president, sales satisfaction. This newly created position and department will develop and direct all divisional customer satisfaction activities including the Toyota Signature program, sales satisfaction improvement processes and customer-service initiatives as well as the administration of the Toyota dealer advertising covenant. Waltz will report to Lentz.

Mike Reding, vice president, corporate accessories, will assume additional duties to include TRD (Toyota Racing Development) accessory operations. Reding will report to Jane Beseda, group vice president, North American parts operations. In addition to her current responsibilities, Beseda will oversee TMS accessory operations.

Toyota Division Field Organization

The following executives will report to Dave Fleming, vice president, Toyota sales:

Clyde Dyson, formerly assistant general manager, San Francisco region, is promoted to general manager, Portland region, replacing Dave Depew.

Rich Simonetti, formerly assistant general manager, Central Atlantic Toyota Distributors, is promoted to general manager, Kansas City region, replacing Nancy Fein.

George Christoff, formerly vice president, Lexus service, parts, customer satisfaction and training, is appointed vice president and general manager, Cincinnati region, replacing Bob Waltz.

Paul Holdridge, formerly general manager, San Francisco region, is appointed general manager, Chicago region, replacing Jim Colon.

Ed Laukes, previously general manager, Lexus Southern area, is appointed general manager, New York region, replacing Dave Fleming.

Mike Wells, formerly vice president, Lexus sales and dealer development, is appointed vice president and general manager, San Francisco region, replacing Paul Holdridge.

Lexus Division Field Organization

The following executives will report to Jim Colon, vice president, Lexus sales and dealer development:

Alec Hagey, previously assistant general manager, Lexus Central area, is promoted to general manager, Lexus Central area, replacing Mark Del Rosso.

Mark Del Rosso, formerly general manager, Lexus Central area, is appointed general manager, Lexus Southern area, replacing Ed Laukes.

Dave Depew, formerly general manager, Portland region, is appointed general manager, Lexus Eastern area, replacing Kevin Flynn.

Additional Promotions and Assignments

Steve Haag, previously national manager, Scion operations, is promoted to corporate manager, Scion operations. Haag will report to Mark Templin.

Zack Hicks, formerly national manager, information systems business management, is promoted to corporate manager, information systems business management. Hicks will report to Barbra Cooper, group vice president and CIO.

Doug Murtha, previously national manager, product planning, is promoted to corporate manager, product planning. Murtha continues to report to Andrew Coetzee, vice president, product planning.

Ron Broughman, previously corporate manager, public companies, is appointed corporate manager, customer satisfaction, replacing Jim Melton. Broughman will report to Bob Waltz.

Kevin Flynn, formerly general manager, Lexus Eastern area, is appointed corporate manager, public companies, with responsibility for liaison with publicly owned dealership groups. Flynn replaces Broughman and will report to Dave Fleming.

Jim Melton, previously corporate manager, Toyota retail dealer development, is appointed corporate manager, international operations with responsibility for Toyota de Puerto Rico and Toyota Motor Sales de Mexico. Melton will report to Alan DeCarr, group vice president, Toyota Logistic Services and international operations.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,422 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports and general aviation. The company's main Web site is http://www.toyota.com/.