Top job: Yoshiyuki Hakamata will take on the role of Suzuki Australia managing director from Masaaki Kato (pictured left and bottom), who spent five and a half years in the position.

SUZUKI Australia has appointed Yoshiyuki Hakamata as its latest managing director, succeeding Masaaki Kato who returns to Japan in an unspecified role after five and half years in the local top job.

Mr Hakamata brings over 30 years’ experience with Suzuki Motor Corporation, having first joined the company in 1985 and has since moved to through departments including personnel, public affairs, corporate planning, overseas automobile planning and marketing.

His most recent role prior to joining Suzuki Australia has been as a manager at Suzuki’s overseas affiliates management group the global business administration department – a position Mr Hakamata held for two years.

According to Suzuki’s local arm, “Mr Hakamata will now direct his attention to maximising opportunities in Australia, no doubt assisted through his previous posting in the Oceania Automobile Group from 2005 to 2007”.

Suzuki Australia general manager Andrew Moore has previously stated a 2500 unit sales target per month for the Japanese brand, helped by the recent launch of the new-generation Swift hatchback and Ignis light SUV.

It is also expected that Suzuki will soon refresh its once best-selling Grand Vitara to compete in the exploding mid-size crossover segment against the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson.

Mr Hakamata had high praise for his predecessor saying: “Mr Kato has done remarkable work during his time here in Australia and I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue to build upon this.”

“Australia is a very important market for Suzuki Motor Corporation, and I am both honoured and humbled to have been selected to lead such a dedicated and dynamic team.”

Mr Kato will return to Japan towards the end of July.

By Tung Nguyen