This year’s executive merry-go-round has more passengers on board
There is no industry nowadays with a busier movement in executive positions than the automotive sector. This year’s merry-go-round is definitely busier and wilder than it was in 2022 with some last-minute surprises as the industry steps out of the pandemic. We take note of the reorganizations, retirements and lateral, as well as upward movements that is expected to define and chart next year’s growth.
New president for Isuzu
The first major announcement for the year was Isuzu Philippines Corporation which officially introduced Tetsuya Fujita to take over from Noboru Murakami as president of the company. Working for Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) since 1991, Fujita has extensive experience in sales and operations. Some of his international experiences include stints in Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA), Isuzu Motors International Operations Thailand (IMIT) in Bangkok, Thailand and before getting assigned to Isuzu Philippines, he also became the Chairman & CEO in Isuzu Motors de Mexico from 2020 – 2021.
Veterans take new leadership roles in Chinese carousel
As SAIC formalized its takeover of Philippine operations from The Covenant Car Company, Inc. starting this month, Felix Jiang was introduced as the president of the SAIC Philippines. Jetour PH saw the appointments of the following executives: Yves Licup as president, Michael Goho as VP and Lito Jose as managing director. Jose is a veteran in the auto industry with stints from various auto brands including luxury European brands while Licup and Goho are second-generation family members who own several dealerships which make this team a potent force to reckon with. Earlier this year, Cherry May De Los Santos left GAC Motors and took on a new post as Marketing Director for Jetour.
This was followed by the introduction of Froilan Dytianquin as Chery Auto PH’s new managing director last May after holding an executive position as the GM for sales and marketing for Sojitz G Auto PH, Geely’s distributor in the country. Also leaving Geely PH was Jelene Fule who is now with Chery Auto PH as manager for media relations and events. Another industry veteran, Rosemary Cruz is also now with Chery Auto PH as marketing director.
This month, Maricar Parco takes on the role as general manager for Changan PH following a major distribution shift to Inchcape PH, which is a joint venture partnership between global automotive company Inchcape Group and CAT Group. She was part of the Astara Group who recently took over the GAC Motor’s distributorship as brand head for Peugeot.
Japanese carmaker Subaru’s Asian distributor Motor Image appointed Karl Magsuci as country manager for Motor Image Pilipinas (MIP). He was the COO of Meralco’s EV arm, e-Sakay Inc. Motor Image’s marketing team members: Christine Liwanag left MIP to be Chery Auto’s Brand and Digital Marketing Manager, while Che Cabotaje signed up with SAIC’s MG Philippines as Marketing Manager and AJ Lumantao is now working for the Lucerne Group. Uzzi Asuncion, who had spent many years as MIP’s marketing head, is now the country brand manager for newcomer Omoda and Jaecco Philippines.
The most recent set of movements came from AC Motors Group, the automotive arm of Ayala Corporation. Taking the helm is a young Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala as the President and CEO of AC Motors, with Antonio “Toti” Zara III as the Head for Distribution and Retail of AC Motors; but he will also be leading electric vehicle brand BYD PH. AC Motors recently took over the distributorship from Solar Transport and Automotive Resources Corporation. BYD is considered the largest global EV maker and with the new shift, much is expected from the brand. Additionally, with the retirement of Manny Aligada from AC Motors as president of Kia PH, it appointed Brian James Buendia as COO for Kia Philippines. Last March, Franz Decloedt left AC Motors as group marketing director to become Astara Group’s head of marketing.
European carousel
There had been a lot of posts on social media of a building with a prancing horse brand which tells us that Japheth Castillo, who headed Ssangyong Berjaya Motor Philippines and Berjaya Auto Asia Inc. has moved to Ferrari Philippines with Satchi Ang Bargas as head of marketing. Both are industry veterans and will surely make the brand bounce back in no time. Jaguar Land Rover’s marketing manager, Cherrey Lou Villaester Alvarez, recently signed up with Mitsubishi Motors Philippines as head of brand communications while Nissan’s Sab delos Reyes filled in her post.
