Mazda Announces Senior Management Changes

Reorganization Will Drive New North American Products, Even Higher Quality

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 28 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced a reorganization of its senior management team to increase the company's focus and resources on product development and even higher quality for the North American market. The changes are effective January 1, 2005.

Robert Davis, formerly Senior Vice President, Product Development and Marketing, has been named to the new position of Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality. Davis will be responsible for vehicle research and development, manufacturing and product quality and future product plans for North America.

"For Mazda to increase our profitability and market share in North America, including Canada and Mexico, it's critical that the vehicles we sell here be developed for and by our North American team," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO of MNAO. "These changes give Robert Davis the authority -- and the right team -- to control two of our most important assets, product development and product quality."

Reporting to Davis will be two other new positions, Vice President, Research and Development and Vice President, Quality. Shiro Yoshioka, from MNAO's parent company, Mazda Motor Corporation, will assume the R&D V.P. post, while the V.P., Quality, will be named at a later date.

Other organizational changes include the addition of a Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, to be named later; the promotion of Shinji Mizukane from Vice President, Finance and Assistant Chief Financial Officer to Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer; and the promotion of Mike Nakashima to Director, Strategic Planning, from his role as Project Leader, Mexico Study Team. These positions will report to O'Sullivan.