EVANSVILLE — Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced Wednesday that Jason Puckett will become president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana effective Monday.
TMNA said Puckett also will serve as group vice president of Manufacturing Region 2, which includes Toyota Motor Manufacturing Missouri (Toyota Missouri) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee (Toyota Tennessee).
Puckett’s career with Toyota stretches back to 1997, according to TMNA. He has been vice president of administration and manufacturing at Toyota Indiana and president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama (Toyota Alabama).
“I am excited to be back at Toyota Indiana,” Puckett said in TMNA’s news release. “It’s where I got my start as an engineer in assembly, so returning as president is an honor. Since my move to Alabama four years ago, so much has changed, but the heart of Toyota and our team members remains the same. I have big shoes to fill, and I am ready to carry the torch.”
Puckett succeeds current president Tim Hollander, who has been named president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (Toyota Canada) and group vice president, Manufacturing Region 1.
Hollander said Toyota Indiana is “in excellent hands” with Puckett.
“Toyota Indiana is like family to me, and I think that is a testament to the team-member-first environment we have created,” Hollander said. “Much of my 27-year career with Toyota has been spent here, and I have been honored and humbled to serve our team members, our community, and our customers. I am excited to take this next opportunity and know Toyota Indiana is in excellent hands with Jason.”
In addition to Puckett’s ascension to Toyota Indiana’s presidency, TMNA announced that Derek Kidnie, vice president of administration, Toyota Canada, has been named vice president of manufacturing at Toyota Indiana.
According to TMNA, Toyota Indiana “represents an $8 billion total investment and has donated over $54 million to local organizations since breaking ground in 1996.”
Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at 11 manufacturing plants, TMNA reports.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Toyota Indiana names new president
Reporting by Thomas B. Langhorne, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
