Motorcycle man: Joining Honda in 1986, Shinji Aoyama has spent most of his career in the motorcycle business, rising to chief operating officer for the division before taking on this new challenge as Asia/Oceania chief.

HONDA has appointed 30-year company veteran Shinji Aoyama as president and CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co and chief officer for regional operations (Asia and Oceania).

This includes overseeing Honda’s Australian subsidiary, which as previously reported has undergone its own management restructure with the appointment this month of Hiroyuki Shimizu as managing director and CEO.

Carolyn McMahon has also moved up as Honda Australia finance director, replacing Sherif Ziada who has retired, while Matthew Evans has been appointed general manager of aftersales.

At the regional office in Bangkok, Mr Aoyama remains an operating officer and director of Honda Motor Company – a position he has held since 2013 – but as head of Asia and Oceania replaces Noriaki Abe, who has returned to Honda in Japan to become chief officer of motorcycle operations for the company.

Mr Abe was in charge of the region for the past two years, while Mr Aoyama has relocated from motorcycle operations in Japan, where for the past four years he has served as chief operating officer.

Mr Aoyama was previously director of Honda Racing Corporation, promoting Honda’s racing activities in Japan and worldwide, while at the same time working as general manager of the motorcycle business planning office, supervising overall planning of the motorcycle business worldwide.

His earlier experience also centred around motorcycles, including a stint as president and director of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and various assignments in Japan, other parts of Asia and Europe (including Italy and Spain).

This included a previous assignment as head of the motorcycle business at Asia Honda Motor Co.

He joined the company in April 1986.

By Terry Martin