Honda Restructures N. American Management Team

Honda Motor Co. has announced structural changes and more than a dozen promotions affecting its entire management leadership in North America. All appointments will take effect on April 1.

Tetsuo Iwamura, currently president of Honda North America, will become the unit's chairman. He also will gain the newly created title of corporate brand officer for the region. Iwamura will remain an executive vice president and director of parent Honda Motor.

Takuji Yamada, an executive vice president of Honda North America, will succeed Iwamura as president of the group, chief operating officer of the unit's North American regional operations and CEO of the Honda brand in the region. He also will retain his role as a managing officer of Honda Motor.

Hidenobu Iwata, senior managing officer of Honda Motor and president and CEO of Honda North American Service and Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM), will retire in June.

Tomomi Kosaka, currently a senior vice president of HAM, will take over for Iwata as president and CEO of that unit.

Honda North American Service, the year-old shared services unit now headed by Iwata, will be merged with Honda North America. Several executives who headed operations within HNAS will take similar assignments within Honda North America.

The company also has created a new Acura Business Planning Office in hopes of reviving demand for the luxury brand's cars. Last year Acura's crossover sales jumped 21% in the U.S., but sales of its sedans fell 10%, according to Autodata Corp.

Erik Berkman, currently senior vice president at HNAS, will head the new Acura planning group.