Koichi Suzuki returns to head American Suzuki
Alysha Webb Automotive News
January 14, 2009 - 11:07 am ET
DETROIT -- American Suzuki announced Tuesday that Koichi Suzuki will rejoin American Suzuki Motor Corp. as executive vice president in charge of automotive operations. The appointment is effective Jan. 28.
Koichi Suzuki, 45, replaces Mark Harano, 45, who will return to Japan to oversee Asian markets.
Koichi Suzuki headed the automotive division in the United States through April 2007. He returned to Japan, where he was group leader responsible for North American marketing.
Suzuki sold 84,865 vehicles in the U.S. in 2008, down 16.7 percent from the previous year. Industrywide sales fell 18.0 percent.