Toyota shuffles U.S. sales, marketing staffs
Fay, Carter get bigger roles as Esmond plans to retire
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'The Marketing Chief Speaks' With Toyota's Bill FayToyota Motor Sales U.S.A. has tapped Bill Fay to lead the Toyota Division and has promoted division chief Bob Carter as part of a broad shuffling of its sales and marketing ranks, effective today.
Carter, 52, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, has been named senior vice president for automotive operations, reporting to Toyota Motor Sales CEO Jim Lentz, the company said in a statement today.
Carter replaces Don Esmond, 68, who has been named a senior adviser to Lentz. Esmond will be responsible for the transition of the new team until year end, when he will retire. He joined Toyota in 1982.
Fay, 56, group vice president for Toyota marketing, steps up as Toyota's group vice president and general manager. His marketing post will be filled by Scion Vice President Jack Hollis, 45. Doug Murtha, vice president for product planning, replaces Hollis at Scion.
The company has recorded a 29 percent gain in U.S. sales through June of this year following four straight annual declines.
Two major realignments
Toyota also said today that it is realigning two key areas of operations, effective today. It is folding its customer service responsibilities into the sales and marketing department. Customer service has been a separate function at Toyota until now.
The company also is moving some of its future technology planning -- including fuel cells and vehicle telematics -- into its product planning department.
Andrew Coetzee, vice president for Lexus customer service, has been named group vice president for product planning, including advanced technology. Chris Hostetter, group vice president for strategic resources, has become group vice president for strategic planning, with a team that includes strategic research, advanced product strategy, business strategy and vehicle exports.
Other changes
Other executive moves at the company:
• Peggy Turner, vice president for customer relations, is promoted to vice resident for Lexus customer service.
• Nancy Fein, 58, vehicle supply chain vice president, has become vice president for customer service, Toyota.
• Fletcher Davidson, group vice president for customer services, was named group vice president for product support.
• Dave Camden was appointed vice president for service & parts support. He previously was vice president for dealer operations in Toyota Customer Services.
Toyota additionally said it has hired Houston attorney Sandra Phillips as its vice president and assistant general counsel, reporting to Toyota Motor Sales General Counsel Chris Reynolds. Phillips has a background in class-action suits, product liability and government investigations.
For Automotive News' Sept. 2011 interview with Fay, click here.
For a video feature on Fay, click here.
You can reach Lindsay Chappell at lchappell@crain.com.
