Changes at the top for Toyota

LEXUS Australia chief executive Tony Cramb has left his position for a promotion within Toyota's local arm as part of a reshuffle of the Japanese car-maker’s board of directors.

Mr Cramb has been promoted to executive director of sales and marketing for Toyota, marking the end of his two-year tenure at the helm of Lexus.

It is not yet known who will replace Mr Cramb at Lexus, but a Toyota Australia spokesperson confirmed that an announcement was imminent.

Mr Cramb, who now reports to Toyota chief executive Matthew Callachor, has worked for Toyota in Australia and internationally for more than 20 years and took over from John Roca as CEO at the start of 2010.

In other changes to the Toyota board, executive vice president David Buttner has been given the added responsibility of chief operating officer, which is a new role in the company.

Mike Rausa has returned to Australia to become executive director of corporate services after spending two years with Toyota in Bangkok, where he held the role of senior vice president of purchasing.

And finally, senior executive director and treasurer Yasushi Nakano will move back to his native Japan and will be replaced by Shigehito Watanabe from the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Toyota Australia president and CEO Max Yasuda said the reshuffle, which took effect on January 1, “will further strengthen our company as we seek to build a more sustainable business in Australia”.