2013 Special: New and not-so-new automotive industry executives

Last April, Isuzu Philippines formally introduced its new company president to the members of the motoring media as Nobuo Izumina officially replaced Ryoji Yamazaki, who was assigned back to Japan as managing director of Isuzu Car Life, an affiliate of Isuzu Motors Ltd. (IML). The 56-year-old Izumina has accumulated over thirty years of work experience with IML, handling overseas operations.  His most recent post started in 2009, where he was chair and CEO for Isuzu Motors Mexico. This would be his first posting in an ASEAN country.

Around the same time this year, Lexus Manila welcomed a new executive vice president, Osamu Shinohara, who took over the post from Masaki Shimomura. More recently, Shinohara has been reassigned to a new leadership post as president of Toyota Manila Bay.

Taking his place as EVP for Lexus Manila is Toshihiko Hiranuma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a bull run for PGA

Roberto Coyiuto III, aside from his position as Porsche Philippines Managing Director, he also now serves as Lamborghini Manila’s president when PGA Cars got the dealership agreement for the Italian supercar brand this year.

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from acquiring the distribution for Lamborghini, PGA also launched Bentley Manila this year with Amado Del Rosario’s additional assignment as Bentley Manila’s Managing Director. He is also concurrently serving as PGA Cars Corporate Affairs Director.

 

 

 

 

Another addition in the PGA this year was Andrew Doyle, who takes the post of PGA Cars Group after sales director, fresh from his last position as after group after sales director of Audi VW Middle East.

 

 

 

 

 

New folks at Volks

Ayala company Automobile Central Enterprise Inc., the Philippine distributor for Volkswagen launched the popular German car brand and is populated by several automotive industry veterans including Arnel Doria, who came from Honda Cars Philippines, another Ayala affiliate. Prior to serving in Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (ACEI) as the new Head of Sales and Marketing, his last post in Honda was a leadership position as the top executive of Honda Safety Center.

 

 

 

Another veteran who joined VW is Janinna Cynthia Mendoza, who started her career in the automotive industry with Ford Philippines. After working with Ford & Mazda Philippines for 13 years in various capacities in marketing, regional ASEAN sales, operations and finance, she now holds the position of Operations Director for ACEI.

 

 

 

 

After a brief hiatus after his departure from CATS Motors, Andros Villaraza joined VW as well. Villaraza was in charge of the Mercedes-Benz brand under CATS Motors for almost a decade. He is now Volkswagen Philippines’ fleet sales and marketing manager.

 

 

 

 

Marie Jewela B. Borromeo or “Je” to her friends, joined ACEI around first quarter of this year as its marketing communications manager. Je worked for Suzuki Philippines for almost 5 years handling advertising, PR and events for both motorcycle and automobile businesses of the company.

 

 

 

 

Peugeot distributor Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI) former marketing manager Pauline Gonzales left her post to become VW’s PR specialist. Prior to Peugeot and VW, she was BMW Philippines’ PR specialist. In her stint in Peugeot, Gonzales was drafted from EDI sister company Asian Carmakers Corp., the country’s distributor of BMW vehicles.

 

 

Sherlyn Co left Suzuki Philippines early this year joined Berjaya Auto Philippines, the new Mazda distributor for the country to become its corporate communications manager.

 

 

 

 

Berjaya’s Kristoff Arcega, on the other hand went on to EDI to become its marketing manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIA Philippines (Columbian Autocar Corporation) also a sister company of Asian Carmakers and EDI, has a new business strategy and governance manager Nenuka Guba who left CATS Motors several months back.

 

 

 

Another new player in the market

Tata Motors Ltd., India’s largest automobile company, has recently appointed Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. (TAJ) as its exclusive distributor in the country in a distribution agreement signed last October. “The Tata-TAJ partnership will bring in new investment and employment opportunities to the country. It will likewise bring in Tata’s renowned technology and engineering expertise, raising standards in the market place by making available Tata’s durability-tested and fuel-efficient diesel and petrol engines,” said Nicky Mariano, TAJ’s general manager. Mariano was the former country manager for Motor Image Pilipinas, the distributor for Subaru vehicles.

 

 

 

Mariano is joined by another Motor Image executive, Kevin Buenaseda, who now it TAJ’s marketing assistant.