Subaru's U.S. offensive begins, new CEO appointed

[gfxdave99]

Subaru's U.S. offensive begins, new CEO appointed

 

Posted Mar 1st 2007 6:04PM by John Neff

Filed under: Hirings/Firings, Subaru

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/viewattachment.aspx.jpgJust one day after Subaru revealed that the U.S. market would play a pivotal role in its new five-year plan, the company has announced a new leader for Subaru of America. Effective April 1st, Tomohiko Ikeda (shown) will assume the role of CEO of Subaru of America, replacing Kunio Ishigami who held the post since June of 2004. Ishigami is retiring after leading Subie to three record sales years in a row and achieving 200,000 sales in 2006.

 

Ikeda had already worked for Subaru of America as vice president from 1988 to 2002 before becoming corporate vice president of Fuji Heavy Industries according to Automotive News, so the man has some insight into what makes the automaker's U.S. unit run.

 

[source: Automotive News, Subaru]

 

PRESS RELEASE:

 

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN

--Ishigami retires after leading company to three consecutive sales records--

 

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 1, 2007 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that Mr. Tomohiko Ikeda has been appointed chairman, president and chief executive officer effective April 1. Mr. Ikeda succeeds Mr. Kunio Ishigami who served as the chairman, president and chief executive officer since June 2004.

 

Mr. Ishigami led the company to three consecutive record sales years and also achieved the corporate milestone of 200,000 unit annual sales in 2006. Mr. Ishigami has been with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the parent company of Subaru, for 38 years and has held a variety of management roles. Mr. Ishigami will be returning to Japan as Advisor to FHI.

 

Mr. Tomohiko Ikeda has been with FHI for 30 years. Before being appointed to his new role at Subaru of America, he most recently served as corporate vice president for FHI. Prior to this role, Mr. Ikeda served as vice president for Subaru of America, Inc. at its headquarters in Cherry Hill, N.J., from 1998-2002, where he was responsible for business planning, the management of capital assets, as well as the sales and marketing coordination with FHI.

 

Prior to this position, Mr. Ikeda served in the Subaru Overseas Division of FHI from 1992 -1997. He was the manager for North America sales and marketing, and prior to that he served as the manager of Asia, Oceania and Latin America sales and marketing for the Overseas Division.

 

Mr. Ikeda also held a number of positions in the training, finance and accounting areas of the company. He began his career with FHI in 1977 as a staff member in the personnel section on the FHI Utsunomiya manufacturing plant. Mr. Ikeda received a bachelor's degree in political science from Waseda University in Japan.

[SLegacy99]

Poli sci eh?

[loopless]

A new CEO=a good time to lobby Subaru to bring back the Legacy GT Wagon.

( which they still make and ship to Canada from the US, how ridiculous is that!)

 

VW seem to think there is enough of a market for "sport wagons". as they are bringing back the Jetta Wagon with 200HP and DSG.

"VW will likely find the necessary buyers as there are very few alternatives"

[loopless]

It's from VWVortex

http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vortex_news/article_1941.shtml

[Jon in CT]

It is still beyond me how they can not advertise a car, then pull it when they say it doesn't sell well...

Duh! It didn't sell well. It doesn't matter how well you advertise it (see Edsel videos).

[IwannaSportSedan]

you can't buy a product you don't know about... without advertizing, or a very well established, popularized brand, products don't sell.

 

And Ford did sell some edsels, just like subaru does sell some tribecas, despite both having huge schnozzes. Ford was much more of a player in the sixties than Subaru is even now, so that also has some built-in exposure.

[PhilT]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/viewattachment.aspx.jpg

 

Is it just me, or does anyone else think he looks like an Asian Chevy Chase ?

[VtspecB]

I'd buy a turbo charged family truckster!!

 

http://www.ajga.org/Newsletter/TheAJGALink/8-5-05/images/Truckster.jpg

[legacy_y_tu]

He looks like Chevy Chase!! :lol:

 

Edit: NM...just saw Phil's post. Yup, first thing I thought when I saw his picture.

[gfxdave99]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/viewattachment.aspx.jpghttp://www.nndb.com/people/499/000024427/Chevy4.jpg

 

Uncanny!

[PhilT]

This would explain all of Subarus marketing decisions though

[jazzymt]

Uncanny!

That's awesome - Subaru lead by Chevy Chase's long lost Japanese twin.

[mach_six]

That's awesome - Subaru lead by Chevy Chase's long lost Japanese twin.

 

I can tell you now that it won't be funny.

[mbacis]

Chevy Chase is close, but I see more Jeremy Piven...

http://www.jeremypiven.net/cpg148/albums/userpics/10001/normal_beep111.jpghttp://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/viewattachment.aspx.jpg