HONDA Australia has appointed Jay Joseph as president and CEO, succeeding outgoing president Yoshitaka Okamoto who takes on a new leadership position in Honda’s motorsports division in Japan.

Mr Joseph will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and operations of Honda’s diverse portfolio in Australia, encompassing the automotive, motorcycles, power equipment and marine divisions.

Honda said he brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success from his 27-year tenure at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., (AHM).

Jay Joseph as president and CEO, Honda Australia

“His career spans across various critical functions, including product planning, regulatory compliance, sales, marketing and, most recently, leading Honda’s efforts in next-generation technologies,” the company said.

Mr Joseph began his career with Honda in Acura public relations and product planning before moving to the product regulatory office to focus on product safety and regulatory compliance.

He then moved into automobile sales, overseeing dealer communication, training, and technology.

Returning to auto operations, Mr Joseph led product planning, market research and vehicle quality assurance, where Honda said he ensured the customer’s voice was central to product development.

Yoshitaka Okamoto, outgoing President, Honda Australia

More recently, he served as vice president of marketing and CX, managing marketing, public relations, and customer experience initiatives for Honda and Acura, before leading the Connected, Automated, Shared, Electrified (CASE) & Energy business unit that spearheads Honda’s efforts in electrification and new energy solutions.

Mr Joseph said: “I am incredibly excited to understand and engage with the Australian consumer and work with our Honda centres.

“Australia presents an opportunity for growth and innovation, and I’m honoured to lead the business into the future of electrification, while building on Honda’s 76-year legacy of engineering innovation and customer satisfaction.”