Big moves at Toyota Australia

TOYOTA Australia has reshuffled its senior executive ranks with Tony Cramb taking over full responsibility for sales and marketing on June 1 from Matthew Callachor, who is relocating to Japan to become general manager of the global Lexus planning division.

Lexus Australia corporate manager of marketing Peter Evans is also on the move, heading to Toyota Motor Asia Pacific in Singapore as project general manager of the Toyota brand and product marketing.

Mr Evans will be responsible for assisting distributors launch new models and “elevate the brand” in markets such as South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Mr Callachor, meanwhile, becomes the first Australian executive to oversee a Lexus division in Japan.

Based at Toyota City, he becomes part of the management team driving Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand worldwide, playing “a leading role” in developing its medium- to long-term global strategy.

He is also following in the footsteps of former Toyota Australia executive chairman John Conomos, who in 2004 was appointed as a managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, becoming the first Australian and one of only five non-Japanese executives to be appointed to a role at this senior level within the company.

Mr Callachor is still a rung down from managing officer level, reporting to executive vice-president of Lexus International (and managing officer) Mark Templin.

From top: Director of sales and marketing Tony Cramb and Toyota brand and product marketing manager Peter Evans.

In Australia, Tony Cramb maintains his title as executive director of sales and marketing but is now fully responsible for the all-important division, reporting to executive vice-president and chief operating officer David Buttner.

Mr Cramb has more than two decades’ experience in senior management positions in Australia and overseas and has been on Toyota Australia’s board since January, working alongside Mr Callachor after three years at the helm of Lexus Australia.

As part of his move up the corporate ladder at Australia’s leading motor company, Mr Cramb also took on extra duties as the Toyota group marketing and national sales senior division manager at the beginning of last year, when Mr Callachor took over the chief sales and marketing role from Mr Buttner.

Mr Cramb began his career in 1987 as a management trainee with York Motors in Sydney and was responsible for distribution of passenger vehicles throughout NSW and the ACT. In 1992, he became the youngest national manager in Toyota’s history.

He also spent two years with Toyota in United States in the early part of last decade, and was involved in the launch of the youth-oriented Scion brand.

Interestingly, this saw him work closely with Mark Templin, who was running Lexus in the US at the time.

Upon returning to Australia in 2005, Mr Cramb held the position of division manager – national sales for Toyota Australia until succeeding John Roca as chief executive of Lexus Australia in 2010.

Announcing the changes this week, Toyota Australia president and CEO Max Yasuda said the moves “reflect the abilities and depth of the Australian-born management team as well as the strengths and opportunities within a global company”.

“These moves highlight the accomplished talent pool in Australia and the ongoing contribution local executives can make at senior levels throughout the corporation,” he said.

“Their strategic vision, innovation and unwavering focus on the customer will be invaluable in helping Toyota and Lexus develop and deliver even better vehicles and service.”