Hubbell Uped As Toyota Announces Organizational Changes to External Communications Group

TORRANCE, Calif., April 2 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. today announced a realignment of its external communications staff. Designed to sharpen the department's interaction with news media and Toyota's business units alike, the organizational changes are effective immediately.

The external communications department continues under the direction of Corporate Manager Mike Michels who reports to Irv Miller, group vice president, corporate communications.

Nancy Hubbell, formerly national manager, Lexus public relations, assumes a newly created position. As national strategic communications manager, Hubbell's responsibilities include integration of Toyota Motor Sales' marketing and public relations programs, proactive outreach to specialized and new media, and general environmental communications.

John Hanson, formerly national product news manager for the Toyota Division, will assume a broader strategic role as national product communications manager for Toyota, Lexus and Scion, Toyota's new youth brand. Reporting directly to Hanson is Julie Alfonso who will serve as Toyota product news manager and Holly Ferris who will serve as Lexus product news manager. Alfonso was formerly Lexus product news manager while Ferris was formerly Toyota product news manager.

Ming-Jou Chen is appointed Scion public relations administrator, reporting to Alfonso.

Nonproduct and general business communications continue to be administered through Toyota's media relations department, headed by Xavier Dominicis, national manager. Toyota's PR field offices in Detroit, New York, Miami, Washington DC, Dallas, Houston, Alameda and Seattle also remain unchanged, reporting to National Field Operations Manager Joe Tetherow.

   Updated telephone numbers are as follow:

   Julie Alfonso       310.468.4625
   Ming-Jou Chen       310.468.4782
   Xavier Dominicis    310.468.5084
   Holly Ferris        310.468.3282
   John Hanson         310.468.4718
   Nancy Hubbell       310.468.7633
   Joe Tetherow        310.468.4727

Established in 1957, TMS is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer services arm of Toyota in the United States. Based in Torrance, CA., TMS employs approximately 6,000 employees nationwide. Last year, it sold more than 1.7 million vehicles through approximately 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers in the 49 continental states.