Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana,
(TMMI) today announced that Seizo Okamoto, the company’s president and
CEO since 1996, has been named chairman. In addition, Shuichi "Shaun"
Koyama will join the company as president and CEO. Vice President, Norm Bafunno,
will be promoted to senior vice president. The changes are effective Jan 1.
"This is an exciting time for our operation, with our next generation
Tundra under development and our role as the mother plant for the new Texas
facility," Mr. Okamoto said. "These two executives bring invaluable
experience to lead us successfully in the coming years."
Mr. Okamoto joined TMMI as president when construction began in 1996. He has
overseen rapid growth to a workforce of 4,700.
The $2.5 billion plant produces more than 300,000 vehicles annually.
Mr. Koyama joined Toyota in 1981 after graduating from the engineering department
of Akita University. His early assignments at Toyota included body engineering,
plastics engineering and interior design. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Koyama served
as vice president of Toyota Technical Center U.S.A., assisting with engineering
design. Most recently, he has served as project general manager of Toyota’s
Takaoka plant in Japan. Mr. Koyama and his wife, Kaori, have three daughters.
Mr. Bafunno joined TMMI in March 1997. As senior vice president, he will be
responsible for administration, corporate planning, production, and manufacturing
planning. He currently serves on the board of Indiana Manufacturers Association,
is president of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, an American Red Cross
board member, and a University of Evansville Advisory Board member.
TMMI began production in 1998 and now produces the Tundra pickup truck, Sequoia
sport utility vehicle and the Sienna minivan.
By 2008, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build 1.81 million cars and
trucks, 1.44 million engines, and 600,000 automatic transmissions in North America.
The company's direct investment is nearly $16.6 billion, with annual purchasing
of parts, materials, goods and services from North American suppliers totaling
more than $26 billion. Toyota's North American-produced vehicles include the
Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, and
the Lexus RX330.
