Toyota TRD taps Tyler Gibbs to succeed retiring David Wilson

Toyota Motor North America will promote longtime lieutenant Tyler Gibbs to succeed David Wilson as head of Toyota Racing Development , or TRD, subsidiary when Wilson retires in December after more than a decade as president of the racing and engine development operation.

Wilson — who has been with TRD for 35 years and its president since January 2014, leading the automaker's motorsports operations — will retire effective Dec. 16. A mechanical engineer and U.S. Army veteran, Wilson worked his way up through the TRD ranks from design and track support engineer into executive roles.

Gibbs joined TRD in 1996, and currently "oversees competition, engineering, commercial and administration activities at TRD," Toyota said in an Aug. 7 statement announcing the change. He is an engineer by training who received his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

"I have big shoes to fill," Gibbs said in a written statement. "Dave has been the cornerstone of TRD's growth and culture over the last 35 years. During my 28 years working for Dave, he has given me countless opportunities to learn and grow, and this is another one of those opportunities. I'm excited and grateful for the privilege to work with so many incredible people at TRD and TMNA, along with our many partners, and together we'll seek to continue TRD's history of success."