Andrew Kirby appointed as president and CEO of Toyota SA

29th March 2016 By: Irma Venter - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Andrew Kirby appointed as president and CEO of Toyota SA

Less than three months after his appointment as executive VP and COO of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), Andrew Kirby has been appointed TSAM president and CEO.

He will take up his new position on April 1.

Kirby replaces Dr Johan van Zyl, who has been appointed TSAM chairperson.

Van Zyl will retain his position as Toyota Europe CEO, gained last year, with his office based in Brussels.

Van Zyl also relinquishes his position as CEO of the African region, a position he held since 2013. This post will now be managed from Tokyo, Japan, with Takeshi Isogaya appointed as CEO of the Africa region.

Toyota Motor Corporation says in a statement that Van Zyl’s role within TSAM will be of “a more strategic nature”, and that he will continue to “guide and support the TSAM management into the future”.

“Andrew is a very experienced, multitalented motoring man and I am confident he will do an outstanding job as the new president and CEO of TSAM,” says Van Zyl.

“The road ahead economically will not always be an easy one to travel, but I believe that, with Andrew and the executive team, we will meet every challenge successfully and continue . . . to remain an integral part of South African life for many years to come.

“I feel very privileged to have personally shared in this rich Toyota legacy and for the ongoing role that I have been asked to play.”