Mitsubishi Appoints News North American President and CEO

Now comes the news that Mitsubishi North America has a new President and CEO, to perhaps get things back on the right track. Yoichi Yokozawa will take the helm from Shinichi Kurihara as of April 1, 2011. Kurihara will be returning to Japan to continue working for the company.

Yokozawa is not new to the company either, having already served 13-years with Mitsubishi, which included heading the brands European board.

Yokozawa has worn many hats within Mitsubishi and we wish him all the best for the future. And Mr. Yokozawa if you’re listening, don’t kill off the Evo.

Press release after the jump:

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Appoints New President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America

– Cypress, California –

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced that effective April 1, 2011, Yoichi Yokozawa will succeed Shinichi Kurihara as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA). Yokozawa has served as the Senior Executive Vice President of MMNA since June of 2010.

Prior to his assignment at MMNA, Yokozawa had been working as a Corporate General Manager in the Overseas Business Management Office at MMC since 2006 where, among other responsibilities, he oversaw the interests of the NAFTA market operations within MMC headquarters. Yokozawa brings a strong financial and strategic planning background to his new position as President and CEO of MMNA. He has worked within MMC managing various levels of financial, business, merger and acquisition, alliance and corporate strategy tasks during the past 13 years. Yoichi Yokozawa’s career with Mitsubishi Motors began in 1998 with a position within the European headquarters (MME) overseeing the financial planning for the European operation. Yokozawa is a graduate of Tokyo University with a degree in Business Administration.

Departing President and CEO, Shinichi Kurihara, will be returning to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. Kurihara’s previous U.S. roles were working in the product planning and marketing department (1984-1988), returning to MMNA when he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Product Strategy (1996-2001), and becoming the President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America (2009-2011).