Mazda's Chairman to Step Down

In the start of a series of personnel changes which are expected to begin at Mazda after the general meeting on June 24, the company's chairman, Hisakazu Imaki, is expected to announce he is stepping down. Together with Imaki, Mazda will likely loose its R&D chief Nobuhiro Hayama as well.

Imaki has been with Mazda for the last 45 years, making a “tremendous contribution” to the company, as the company's CEO, Takashi Yamanouchi says. Imaki is to be replaced by the current CEO, who will become the "supreme executive adviser."

“Since joining Mazda more than 45 years ago, Mr Imaki has worked primarily in the areas of production engineering and manufacturing and contributed greatly to the company’s growth,” Yamanouchi told GoAuto about the still current chairman.

“While serving as president, Mr Imaki also promoted the strengthening of the company’s product and brand strategy and led the development of the next-generation Sky concept powertrains."

Imaki was one of the men which led Mazda through the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Under his leadership, the manufacturer got a new "breed" of executive officers, while Mazda posted an operating profit for 2010.

“In the fiscal year ending March 2010, the company posted an operating profit and is on the road to recovery, so Mr Imaki has taken this opportunity to retire from day-to-day management,” Yamanouchi added.

So far, Mazda has not announced any replacement for Nobuhiro Hayama, but did highlight other changes within the company. Shigeki Wakamatsu, Mazda’s corporate auditor, will also step down, withn Kazuyuki Mitate, the current general manager of the corporate communications division, taking over his position.