Toyota’s James Press Bolts for Chrysler
The president of North American operations for Toyota Motor Corp, James Press, has jumped ship for Chrysler LLC.
James Press was the highest ranking American at Toyota.
He will be vice chairman and president and report directly to Robert Nardelli former Home Depot Inc. CEO and now head of Chrysler.
Press will be responsiblefor:
1. sales and marketing
2. product strategy
3. service and parts
Press started at Ford Motor Co in 1968 just out of state college.
Two years later he followed a boss to Toyota and worked his way through the ranks.
Press' biggest contribution to Toyota may be his development of a strong bond between Toyota and U.S. dealers.
Press is the second Toyota exec that Chrysler has stolen. Deborah Wahl Meyer, the marketing chief of Toyota's Lexus division joined Chrysler as Chief Marketing Officer.
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said: "Jim has played a significant role in strengthening Toyota's presence in the U.S. I was looking forward to him playing a bigger role as a member of our management team, so I am sorry to see him leave. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all he has done for Toyota."
Looks like Jim Press was due for a promotion with Toyota, too.
We'll never know….
What Press needs most of all…is something he can sell…and nobody beats Toyota.
