Shuffle at Toyota according to plan

Toyota's executive shuffle last week was part of a broader effort to stay nimble globally as auto volumes and competition increase, while the promotions of key figures in North America, including Bob Carter and Bill Fay, follow long-term succession plans for top posts.

"There's really no shock to the system over this," said Scott Vazin, Toyota's chief communications officer for North America. Rather, the moves are part of an annual revision as the company heads into its new fiscal year, he said. The appointments are effective April 1, and come amid the final phase of Toyota's reorganization and consolidation of its North American headquarters in Plano, Texas.

Carter, 57, known for his active engagement with auto dealers, was named executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America, with responsibility for sales, marketing, distribution and customer service for Toyota and Lexus. Carter, who reports to North American CEO Jim Lentz, was also named executive general manager at the parent company in Japan.

While the job shift frees Carter from some day-to-day engagements, Vazin said, the Toyota executive will remain active with dealers, because he's passionate about supporting retail operations.

Fay, who moves into Carter's job, was previously general manager of the Toyota Division. Fay told Automotive News he'll continue to attend dealer events such as the National Automobile Dealers Association convention and auto shows but cut back on commitments such as media outings so he can attend to his new Lexus responsibilities.

Jack Hollis, who takes over for Fay, will be in the spotlight more. He was previously the head of Toyota division marketing, and now adds responsibility for sales and customer relations. Hollis, 50, "will be out there more often with that combined role," Fay said.

The North America changes come as headquarters in Japan consolidates the Toyota Motor Corp. board to nine members from 11 to streamline decision making. 

President Akio Toyoda has been restructuring Toyota to reduce bureaucracy as it expands to global volume of 10 million vehicles and grapples with increasingly complex worldwide operations. 

"Let us come together to create work processes that allow us to remain viable in an era in which we are producing and selling 10 million vehicles a year," Toyoda said in a statement.

The change is meant to draw a clearer line between board members who lay out broad corporate strategy, and operating officers who carry out the plans, Toyota said. 

Several top executives in Japan will step down in the shuffle, including board members Mitsuhisa Kato, 64, who oversees advanced research, and Takahiko Ijichi, the current CFO. 

Osamu Nagata, 60, who is currently executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America, will return to Japan as an executive vice president, board member and the new CFO. 

Seiya Nakao, who is currently president of the Toyota Technical Center, the company's expansive North American r&d arm, becomes senior managing officer in charge of China operations. 

Japan is dispatching engineering veteran Shinichi Yasui to take the helm of Toyota's North American r&d and procurement. Yasui was a point man in developing the Toyota New Global Architecture, the modular platform strategy that aims to cut costs, lift quality and improve driving dynamics. 

Among other changes at the global level, Yoshihiro Sawa was promoted to president of Lexus International Co. He is currently executive vice president of Toyota's luxury brand.