Dr Johan van Zyl has stepped down as Toyota Motors Europe president and CEO, and has returned to Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) to serve as executive chairperson.
Van Zyl was TSAM president and CEO, as well as Africa region CEO, before his departure for Europe six years ago.
While in Europe, he also served as TSAM chairperson.
Current TSAM president and CEO Andrew Kirby says the 62-year-old Van Zyl will be based in South Africa in his new role within TSAM.
“He is going to be working with us to help us with our long-term risks and strategies. With his network links across the world – not just within Toyota – he will be a real asset to us.”
Van Zyl tells Engineering News & Mining Weekly that he will have an executive role and will thus be working with the “executive team, with Andrew”.
“I’m not playing five-day cricket anymore; more like one-day or T-20 matches,” he quips.
“My focus will be on the long-term aspects of our business here in South Africa – in other words, to make sure that we are ready for the technology changes that are happening in the automotive industry, especially in terms of powertrains.
“My focus will also be on ensuring that we’ll be able to sell the product range we manufacture within TSAM not only in South Africa and the rest of Africa, but that we can also export it to the rest of the world.
“I’ll also be focused on future manufacturing technology; on what TSAM’s future manufacturing paradigm will look like in terms of new technology,” explains Van Zyl.
“Also, Toyota is moving worldwide from being a vehicle manufacturer to a mobility provider, so we’ll have to address this in South Africa too.”
Van Zyl says he will also be involved in a particular passion of his, namely the development of people.
“We need to make sure we have the right succession and future leadership in place.”
Van Zyl says he will retain his positions in various South African councils and development bodies, such as the Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI).
The PPGI is a voluntary initiative focused on enabling, facilitating and driving actions to implement sector-developed growth plans.
The sectors, for example, identify catalytic megaprojects for implementation. Inhibitors or constraints are then identified and unlocked with government.
Van Zyl is a founding member of the PPGI.