Tech giant Toyota Motor North America grants leadership position to Chief Technology Officer

Toyota Motor North America Announces Promotion of Keita Moritsu

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has announced the promotion of Keita Moritsu to Senior Vice President for Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer, effective September 8. In this new role, Moritsu will oversee TMNA's vehicle research and development, reporting directly to Tetsuo Ogawa, the President and CEO of TMNA.

Moritsu has been with Toyota Motor Corp. since 1999 and has held various positions within the company. He has been responsible for the North American truck series and Land Cruiser series and platforms as global chief engineer. His global chief engineer responsibilities include Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma, and 4Runner.

In 2007, Moritsu was involved with the North American R&D's Z Division, working on product planning for the Lexus RX in the regional market. Prior to his promotion, Moritsu served as senior executive for research and development at TMNA.

The transition comes as Mike Sweers, current Senior Vice President for Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer at TMNA, is retiring on September 12. Sweers has been with Toyota Motor Corp. since 1981 and has played a significant role in the company's North American operations.

The release does not specify if Moritsu will maintain his current position in the North American executive committee or if he will have any additional responsibilities beyond his current roles. It also does not provide information on any successor for Moritsu's global chief engineer roles or a specific date for his promotion to Senior Vice President for Research and Development and Chief Technology Officer.

Tetsuo Ogawa, President and CEO of TMNA, oversees the company's North American operations and is the direct supervisor of Moritsu. Ogawa expressed his confidence in Moritsu's abilities, stating, "Keita's extensive experience and deep understanding of our products make him the ideal candidate for this role. I am confident that he will lead our research and development efforts to new heights."

The promotion of Keita Moritsu is a significant move for TMNA and reflects the company's commitment to its North American operations. With Moritsu at the helm of research and development, TMNA is poised to continue its growth and innovation in the automotive industry.

Tech giant Toyota Motor North America grants leadership position to Chief Technology Officer