Точка Синхронізації

Toyota Motor Corporation announced a major leadership transition in Tokyo on February 6, 2026, naming current Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer to better navigate intensifying global competition. Effective April 1, Kon will succeed Koji Sato, who is stepping down after a three-year tenure to assume the newly established role of Chief Industry Officer and serve as the company’s vice chairman. This strategic shuffle comes as the world's largest automaker seeks to bolster its financial management and accelerate decision-making processes in the face of rapid disruption from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Kenta Kon, recognized as a close confidant of Chairman Akio Toyoda, brings a background rooted in rigorous cost-control and accounting. During his time as CFO, Kon was instrumental in orchestrating the proposed buyout of subsidiary Toyota Industries, a move intended to consolidate the founding family's influence despite some pushback from minority shareholders regarding transparency. His promotion signals a shift in focus toward internal corporate management and financial efficiency, whereas his predecessor, Sato, was primarily known for his expertise in product development and engineering. The leadership change was revealed alongside Toyota's third-quarter earnings report, which displayed robust financial health despite the competitive landscape. The automaker raised its full-year operating profit forecast by nearly 12%, buoyed by significant cost-reduction initiatives and a favorable exchange rate due to a weaker yen. Analysts suggest that Kon’s experience with Woven by Toyota, the company’s mobility technology arm, will be critical as the firm attempts to bridge the software and technology gap between its current fleet and those of tech-heavy Chinese rivals like BYD. Retiring CEO Koji Sato presided over a period of significant stock growth, with Toyota shares rising 111% during his leadership. While Sato successfully defended Toyota’s strategy of prioritizing gasoline-electric hybrids—a bet that resulted in record sales—the company has faced mounting pressure regarding its perceived delay in the transition to fully electric battery vehicles. In his new capacity as Chief Industry Officer, Sato will pivot toward broader industry engagement, allowing Kon to handle the immediate administrative and financial complexities of the automotive giant.