Former Toyo Tire Europe VP to head up Toyo Tire U.S.A

On 1 January 2012, Tatsuo Mitsuhata will take over from Yashushi Takagi as president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.; Takagi, who has held this position at Toyo Tire U.S.A. since January 2009, will return to Japan as Toyo Tires’ general manager of corporate planning. This appointment is Mitsuhata’s second US-based position – he previously worked for Toyo Tire U.S.A., as the company’s coordination manager between 1994 and 1998.

Mitsuhata began working at Toyo Tire & Rubber in 1988 and quickly rose through the ranks. His past duties include overseeing the company’s Middle East sales operations from offices in Greece, and then overseeing all sales within the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and China from Toyo Tires’ corporate headquarters in Japan. Between 2008 and 2011, Mitsuhata held the position of vice-president of Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, where he oversaw all sales operations in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Italy.  In addition, he served as acting president for the company’s Germany/Austria Division. Currently Mitsuhata serves as general manager of sales strategy in the Toyo Tire Overseas Sales Division.

“Tatsuo Mitsuhata is an experienced veteran of Toyo Tires worldwide, with prior service in the US,” said Takashi Shimizu, president and CEO, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc.  “We look forward to bringing his leadership and extensive knowledge to Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. as the Toyo Tires brand continues to expand in this country.”