American Suzuki gets new auto president
Kathy Jackson | Automotive News / April 23, 2007 - 3:40 pm
LOS ANGELES -- Masafumi Harano has been named president of automotive operations for American Suzuki Motor Corp., replacing Koichi Suzuki. The appointment takes effect May 1.
Harano, 43, has been president of Suzuki Canada Inc. since 2004.
Koichi Suzuki, 43, will oversee the company's North American marketing department at headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Harano joined Suzuki in 1988 after graduating from college. He worked in marketing and product planning at the Japan headquarters before coming to U.S. headquarters in Brea, Calif., in 1993 to work in sales and marketing.
He went to Canada in 1998.
Koichi Suzuki was named president of the U.S. automotive operations in January 2004, when the company separated the automotive and motorcycle operations. Before that, both units were operated jointly and headed by Rick Suzuki, grandson of the founder of Suzuki Motor Corp. Koichi Suzuki is not related to Rick Suzuki but worked for him soon after Rick Suzuki took the helm of the company in December 1998.
Before coming to this country, Koichi Suzuki worked 10 years with Suzuki in Japan, mainly in marketing and planning overseas activities, including North America.
During 2006, under Koichi Suzuki, American Suzuki sold more than 100,000 vehicles for the first time in the United States.
"I am proud that our sales showed double-digit increases for each of the last three years and that we set a new sales record of over 100,000 units last year," Koichi Suzuki said. "With more outstanding products on the horizon, I am confident that (Harano's) leadership will allow American Suzuki to build upon its sales momentum and continue Suzuki's success in the United States."
