Toyota Appoints Kenta Kon as New CEO, Koji Sato Shifts to Strategic Leadership Role

[Personnel Change] Toyota Motor Corporation announced that CFO Kenta Kon will succeed as President and CEO, while Koji Sato will transition to Vice Chairman.

Core Strategic Shift: Kon to Focus on Internal Operations, Sato on Industry Strategy

Kenta Kon will officially assume the roles of President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Corporation on April 1, 2026, succeeding Koji Sato. Sato will become Vice Chairman and concurrently take on the newly created role of Chief Industry Officer, in addition to his upcoming appointment as Chairperson of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Strategic Rationale: Accelerating Decision-Making Amid Deep Industry Transformation

This leadership reshuffle aims to strengthen corporate governance and sustainable investment capabilities, enhancing decision-making efficiency in complex environments. Toyota stated that the automotive industry currently faces severe challenges, necessitating organizational optimization to bolster international competitiveness.

Key Financial Update: Full-Year Profit Forecast Raised to JPY 3.8 Trillion

Despite the impact of U.S. tariff hikes, Toyota has raised its fiscal year 2026 operating profit forecast to JPY 3.8 trillion (approximately USD 24 billion), up from the previous estimate of JPY 3.4 trillion, driven by record sales volumes.