Toyota makes management appointments

TOYOTA Australia has revised its senior management ranks in its sales and marketing arm for both the Toyota and Lexus brands.

A long-time sales and marketing executive of Toyota Australia, Matthew Callachor, has been appointed executive director of sales and marketing, taking over the role of the late Alan Porich who died in 2008.

Reporting to senior executive director David Buttner, Mr Callachor will oversee the sales, marketing and product planning and administration divisions.

Lexus Australia chief executive John Roca has moved back to the Toyota brand as divisional manager of national sales, reporting to Mr Callachor and effectively switching jobs with long-serving executive Tony Cramb.

A replacement for Mr Roca has yet to be named.

Mr Callachor commenced his career at Toyota Australia as a marketing services analyst in 1982, and has been groomed through a wide range of senior management positions including an inter-company transfer to the United States where he was appointed manager responsible for aftermarket with Toyota Motor Sales.

He was divisional general manager marketing in 2005 and added sales to his responsibility in 2006 In 2007 he was appointed divisional manager customer service which takes in parts, service and accessories.

He is seen as a protégé of the two men most responsible for moulding the modern Toyota in Australia, long-time president Bob Johnston and former executive chairman John Conomos.

Mr Callachor will work alongside senior divisional manager Mark Dobson, who is responsible for operations, logistics, and parts and service marketing.

Meanwhile, Mr Cramb comes to Lexus with more than 20 years’ experience at Toyota, both in Australia and abroad. The latter includes a two-year stint earlier this decade in the US, where he was involved in launching the youth-oriented Scion brand.

Upon his return in 2005, Mr Cramb was appointed divisional manager of national sales for Toyota Australia.