New Co-CEO for Mitsubishi North America
Hopefully, this means a new stronger commitment to the US by MMC. This comes with news that Mitsubishi Heavy, Mitsubishi Corp., and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi each upped their shares in Mitsubishi Motors to maintain their majority stake.
Mitsubishi names co-CEO for U.S. operations
By Kathy Jackson
Automotive News / December 12, 2005
LOS ANGELES -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has named Hiroshi Harunari as co-CEO of its U.S. operations, a position now held solely by Rich Gilligan.
Harunari is head of overseas operations, including the United States, a position to which he was named April 1.
Gilligan, 62, made the announcement to the staff in Cypress, Calif., at a meeting on Monday afternoon.
The dealer council was told by teleconference after the staff meeting.
"I think this is a good thing," says Chuck Barber, chairman of the Mitsubishi dealer council.
Barber says Harunari is close to Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors.
"So that gives you quick communication between the U.S. and Japan," Barber said. "I think it's a show of support for this market."
In a December interview with Automotive News, Masuko said the company needs to improve sales here.
He also said Mitsubishi has too many underperforming dealers in this country.
Gilligan, who headed Mitsubishi's manufacturing operations in Normal, Ill., became CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America in January, after the departure of Finbarr O'Neill.
Mitsubishi's sales have risen in three of the last four months, but sales still were down 24.0 percent for the first 10 months of this year.
