Toyota Names Hamp to Head N. American PR

Toyota Motor Corp. has recruited Julie Hamp, a former General Motors Co. public relations executive, to become Toyota's chief communications officer for North America on June 25.

Hamp will lead the company's public relations in the region and coordinate communications by Toyota's separate sales, manufacturing and engineering units. She succeeds Jim Wiseman, who is retiring this month after 23 years at Toyota. Hamp will be based in Torrance, Calif., and report to Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

Hamp joins Toyota from Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc., where she has been global chief communications officer and senior vice president of consumer relations since December 2007. She previously held a series of communications jobs for GM in Europe and Latin America and at the Buick, Cadillac and Saturn brands.