Travel guide: Over more than three decades with Isuzu Motors, Ms Yaguchi’s international roles have taken her to more than 40 countries, and she is now working to keep Isuzu as the top-selling truck brand in Australia.

ISUZU Australia Limited’s new managing director and CEO Hiroko Yaguchi will draw on her international experience in leading the Australian subsidiary of the Japanese truck brand, having been thrust into the role with the sudden departure of Hiroshi Nishizaka.

As previously reported, Mr Nishizaka stepped down from the position after less than a year and has returned to Japan to take up a new assignment with Isuzu Motors.

Ms Yaguchi, who officially took the reins during June, said this week that she was familiar with the Australian market and operations from her previous role as general manager of the international sales department, which covers Australasia, the US and Europe, the latter including Turkey and Russia.

Hiroshi Nishizaka

She was in that position for about a year after earlier spending five years managing overseas sales for the south-west Asia market and, prior to that, about a decade in a similar position with responsibility for central America and the Caribbean.

With more than 30 years’ experience with Isuzu, Ms Yaguchi has also worked in a variety of positions in other overseas markets including Panama, Taiwan, Latin America and Europe.

Charged with maintaining Isuzu’s position as the market-leading truck brand in Australia, Ms Yaguchi, who in recent weeks has met with dealers and some of the company’s biggest customers, said: “It’s this understanding of the broader Isuzu organisation – and the unique requirements that each individual market has – that will assist me in working with the talented team here in Australia to continue the excellent effort and success that has been attained over many years.

“It’s a remarkable track record that has been achieved here in Australia and I look forward to building on the 28 years of market leadership and helping the organisation accomplish even more success in the years ahead,” she said.

By Terry Martin