Inside The Mind Of An Automotive Geek

It’s high time for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. to do some management changes. So who made it to the most-coveted TMS seats?

The executive appointments are as follows:

With the recent retirement of Bob Pitts, administrative services will now report to Tracey Doi, the group vice president & CFO.

Chris Hostetter, vice president of advanced product strategy and product planning, is promoted to group vice president of advanced product strategy and product planning. Hostetter continues to report to Dave Danzer, group vice president, corporate strategy and product planning.

Randy Pflughaupt, vice president of marketing, is promoted to group vice president of marketing, Toyota Division. Pflughaupt continues to report to Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division.

Bill Fay, vice president of sales, is promoted to group vice president, sales administration, replacing Al Cabito. A distinguished 36-year veteran of Toyota, Cabito elected to retire, effective January 2008. Fay reports to Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations.

Jim Colon, vice president of Lexus sales and dealer development, is appointed vice president of sales, Toyota Division, replacing Fay. Colon reports to Carter.

Brian Smith, corporate manager, marketing/SUV, is promoted to vice president of Lexus sales and dealer development, replacing Colon. Smith will report to Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager of the Lexus Division.

Kevin Higgins, national sales and product planning manager, is promoted to corporate manager, marketing/SUV, replacing Smith. Higgins reports to Pflughaupt.

Mike Reding, vice president of corporate accessories, is appointed to the new position of vice president, sales support and international operations, with responsibility for Fleet/Toyota Rent a Car/Toyota Certified Used Vehicles and international operations. Reding reports to Fay.

Elaine Matsuda, corporate manager of customer relations, is promoted to vice president of corporate accessories, replacing Reding. Matsuda continues to report to Jane Beseda, group vice president and general manager, customer service division.

Nancy Fein, vice president of Lexus customer service, is appointed vice president of customer relations, replacing Matsuda. Fein reports to Beseda.

Al Smith, corporate manager of Fleet/Toyota Rent a Car/Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, is promoted to vice president of Lexus customer service, replacing Fein. Smith reports to Templin.

Scott Heyer, national fleet sales and marketing manager, is promoted to corporate manager of Fleet/Toyota Rent a Car/Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, replacing Smith. Heyer reports to Reding.

Barbara Arnold, assistant general counsel, is promoted to vice president of ethics, compliance, and enterprise risk management, with added responsibility for environmental, health and safety, which currently reports to administrative services. Arnold continues to report to Chris Reynolds, vice president and general counsel.

Ginger Bauer, managing counsel, legal services group, is promoted to corporate manager, assistant general counsel. Bauer assumes responsibility for the business operations legal support group previously managed by Arnold. Bauer reports to Reynolds.

More TMS appointments here.