PLANO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor
North America (TMNA) announces executive changes to its
manufacturing organization, effective January 4, 2021.
David Fernandes, who currently
serves as senior vice president, Manufacturing, Toyota South Africa
Motors (TSAM), will become president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Mississippi (TMMMS). TMMMS
assembles one of Toyota's core vehicles, the Corolla. In this role,
Fernandes will be responsible for all manufacturing and
administration functions, reporting to Brian Krinock, senior vice president, Vehicle
Manufacturing, TMNA. Prior to his TSAM assignment, Fernandes served
as president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama (TMMAL) and held a variety of roles
within TMNA's Manufacturing and Production Engineering groups.
Fernandes began his Toyota career in 1998 as a group leader at the
company's West Virginia plant.
Current TMMMS president, Sean
Suggs, will assume full responsibilities as group vice
president, Social Innovation based in Plano, Texas, as previously announced.
Jason Puckett, who currently
serves as vice president, Administration at Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI),
will become president of TMMAL. TMMAL assembles four-, six- and
eight-cylinder engines. Puckett started his career with Toyota in
1997 as a specialist in Assembly preceding TMMI's start of
production. He has held a variety of roles at TMMI including vice
president, Manufacturing; general manager, Bodyweld and Stamping;
and general manager, Production Control. Puckett spent two years at
Toyota's manufacturing and engineering headquarters as general
manager, Corporate Strategy, responsible for overall manufacturing
strategic initiatives in North
America. In his new role, Puckett will report directly to
Norm Bafunno, senior vice president,
Unit Manufacturing, TMNA.
Current TMMAL president David
Finch, who has been on assignment at TMNA since 2019, will
return to TSAM as senior vice president, Manufacturing. Finch has
been instrumental in leading TMMAL's $288
million expansion effort, including a new 150,000 square
foot V6 engine assembly line, and the creation of 450 new jobs.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of
the cultural fabric in North
America for more than 60 years, and is committed to
advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota
and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly
employs more than 47,000 in North
America. The company has contributed world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks
at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in
Alabama that begins production in
2021.
Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota,
visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Contact:
Victor Vanov
469-292-1318
victor.vanov@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America