Toyota scraps vice president post as part of successor search

Chief Akio Toyoda eager for more face time with younger execs

Toyota President Akio Toyoda, posing here with the automaker's racing team. © Reuters

MASAHISA YUZAWA and YUKIHIRO OMOTO, Nikkei staff writers

March 4, 2020 05:30 JST

NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor will streamline its top management as President Akio Toyoda seeks more opportunities to communicate with younger executives who could one day succeed him.

Japan's top automaker said Tuesday that it will abolish the title of executive vice president April 1, reclassifying all holders as operating officers. The company now has six executive vice presidents.