Nobuki named Toyo chairman

TOKYO (Oct. 16, 2014) — Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has promoted Akira Nobuki, president since March 2013, to chairman, filling a position left open since February when Kenji Nakakura assumed executive emeritus status.

Mr. Nakakura had been named chairman in March 2013.

Toyo also named Takuji Yamamoto, 57, representative director and executive corporate officer since July, to succeed Mr. Nobuki, 59, as president and representative director. The company also promoted Tetsuya Kuze, 57, to executive corporate officer and representative director.

Mr. Kuze's promotion now gives Toyo three representative directors, a change the company said it is making to strengthen its management system in line with the firm's growth and expansion expectations.

Toyo said Mr. Nobuki's appointment to chairman is related to “reasons of health,” but it did not elaborate. He also continues as representative director.

Mr. Nobuki joined Toyo in 1978 and has spent most of his career in the company's tire business.

Mr. Yamamoto has been with Toyo since 1980 and has held several executive positions within the company's tire business, including three years as general manager of the research and development division.

Mr. Kuze also joined Toyo in 1980 and has held executive positions in the administrative division since 2009, including management of the company's corporate social responsibility initiatives.