Isuzu names new chair for its SA unit

Isuzu Motors has appointed Naohiro Yamaguchi, a veteran of the Japanese vehicle maker, as chair of its SA unit with effect from the beginning of October.

Yamaguchi has held various leadership roles in his 35 years with Isuzu, including international sales office manager from 1999 to 2003 in Japan, GM positions in Thailand from 2003 to 2015, and senior executive positions specialising in light commercial vehicles in India from 2015 to 2021.

He will continue serving in his role as senior executive officer for the light commercial vehicles business and will take up duty as chair of Isuzu Motors SA while residing in Japan.

“We are pleased to have Naohiro Yamaguchi join the Isuzu Motors SA team, especially given the extensive Isuzu experience he brings with him,” said Isuzu Motors SA president and CEO Billy Tom.

Yamaguchi takes over from Shigeji Sugimoto, who had been in the position since March 2020. Sugimoto fulfilled his role as chair while based in Dubai and will begin a new role as senior executive officer and chair of Isuzu Motors Sales, the group’s biggest distribution subsidiary in Japan.

Gqeberha-based Isuzu Motors SA was established in January 2018 as Isuzu’s first wholly-owned subsidiary outside Japan after the global vehicle manufacturer bought the local manufacturing and distribution facilities of General Motors, which had been building Isuzu vehicles under licence.