Toyota Names Lentz Head of Sales, Manufacturing in N. America

Toyota Motor Corp. has given Jim Lentz, who heads sales operations in North America, the additional assignment of managing the company's manufacturing operations in the region, effective April 1.

Osamu Nagata, who has been running Toyota's manufacturing in North America, has been promoted to executive vice president for Toyota North America.

Separately, Toyota has named Julie Hamp, currently a group vice president for the company's North American operations, as the first female managing officer of the parent company. She will be based in Japan as chief communications officer for Toyota worldwide.

The promotions all are part of a global management restructuring at Toyota. The new organization gives more local responsibility to regional managers such as Lentz. It also broadens the responsibilities of its executive vice presidents.

In his new role, for example, Nagata will oversee all Toyota operations in North America. He also will head the region's One Toyota program, including the relocation of Toyota's regional headquarters from California to Texas.