Toyota
Big shake-up at Toyota: CEO Koji Sato to step down, CFO set to take over
Tokyo/IBNS: Toyota Motor Corporation on Friday announced that Chief Executive Officer Koji Sato will step down, with Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon set to take over as President and CEO in a leadership reshuffle—the second at the top of the automaker in three years, media reports said.
Kon will assume charge on April 1, while Sato will transition to the role of Vice Chairman and Chief Industry Officer (CIO).
“Under this new leadership structure, Sato will focus on the broader industry, including Toyota, as Vice Chairman and CIO, while Kon will focus on internal company management as President and CEO,” the company said in a statement.
“This change in roles is intended to accelerate management decision-making in response to changes in the internal and external environment and to establish a structure that will enable Toyota to fully carry out its mission of contributing to society through industry.”
Toyota said the organisational revamp comes amid an increasingly challenging global automotive environment, which requires faster execution and stronger industry collaboration to enhance international competitiveness.
As Chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Sato is expected to play a key role in driving industry-wide cooperation.
He also serves as Vice Chair of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), a position he has held since May 2025, where he is expected to promote policy initiatives centred on monozukuri (manufacturing) and strengthen Japan’s industrial competitiveness.
The company said that as Toyota continues its transformation into a mobility company, it must expand partnerships both within and beyond the automotive sector.
Within the company, improving earning power and lowering break-even volumes remain immediate priorities. Toyota said these challenges require company-wide reforms across the entire value chain.
As CFO, Kon has led efforts to strengthen Toyota’s earnings structure and has gained cross-functional management experience at Woven by Toyota Inc., positioning him to steer internal reforms.
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