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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Toyota grandson to take top job

Business Jan. 10, 2009 - 05:28AM JST ( 4 )

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4 Comments

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ptolemyJan. 10, 2009 - 04:30PM JST

The friendly and unpretentious Toyoda, who has appeared before reporters in a racing outfit—unusual among staid suit-clad Japanese executives—has come to symbolize the rejuvenation of Toyota’s management.

PR person: Here sir wear this racing suit.

Toyoda: What? Why?

PR person: It will give the appearance that you are young, daring, and will rejuvenize the company.

Toyoda: OK, but are you sure?

PR person: Trust me, here is all the research data and poll numbers.

Toyoda: Well as they say, image is everything. Banzai!!!
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elbudamexicanoJan. 10, 2009 - 05:36PM JST

I predict TOYOTA will not be in the Toyota family hands for much longer, just look at Ford etc..time to break this huge company up and get it to be more profitable again.
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AlfGarnettJan. 10, 2009 - 10:44PM JST

Strewth, just because has was born with a silver spoon in his gob, he lands the top job, the jammy git.

I bet he's a thick as two short planks, i mean, who's going to dress like that at his age and that.
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bebertJan. 10, 2009 - 11:08PM JST

elbudamexicano, it all depends upon Toyoda's professional grooming and his bloodline.

William Clay Ford is an example of how the genius and drive of the founder (Henry Ford, in this case) can be bred out of the genetics through bad breeding decisions. The Ford family even has "Hollywood" blood now.

He was not fit for the job from day 1 and relied too heavily on an executive management team that was not running the company with its long term survival in mind. Ford was also more concerned about creating a politically correct company with crap like free day care and employees doing volunteer work on the clock in the inner cities than he was in maintaining the profitability necessary to protect his company and his employees' jobs. The reward? The Ford family's wealth in company stock is down over 90%.

Hopefully, Toyoda will have the additional incentive of "saving face" and will not screw up like so many American dynasties have (especially the newspaper families).