Tokyo - Toyota Motor Corporation on Wednesday named its first non-Japanese executive vice-president and first female non-Japanese executive.
Didier Leroy, a 57-year-old French national who currently heads Toyota's European division, will become executive vice-president on April 1, the carmaker said in a statement.
Leroy, who joined Toyota in 1998, had been regarded as a strong candidate given his progress in reducing costs and boosting profitability in the European market.
Toyota also appointed Julie Hamp as managing officer. She currently serves as chief communications officer at Toyota Motor North America.
Of Toyota's 57 executives, only seven are non-Japanese. A non-Japanese has never been appointed as one of its six vice-presidents, who can exert great decision-making power over the carmaker, the Nikkei business daily reported.
Sapa-dpa