Brain drain continues: Audi names ex-Toyota manager as new COO

Brain drain continues: Audi names ex-Toyota manager as new COO

Filed under: Hirings/Firings, Audi, Toyota


Following on the heels of Jim Press and Jim Farley, another American Toyota executive has jumped ship to join a competitor. This time it's former Regional Manager of Toyota's Portland region, Mark Del Rosso. Del Rosso has spent his entire career at Toyota since graduating from USC. He joins Audi of America as Chief Operating Officer, where he will be responsible for sales, distribution and market planning for VAG's premium brand. With so many high-ranking executives leaving Toyota's US operations, one has to wonder if this is a sign of trouble at Toyota or a case of people leaving a success story in search of new challenges. The Audi press release is after the jump.

[Sources: Audi, Automotive News - Sub. req'd]Continue reading Brain drain continues: Audi names ex-Toyota manager as new COO

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments


More...

Interesting. I wonder how this will ultimately affect Toyota and their sales. IMO Toyota really needs to downsize. Quality and badly designed new cars are starting to come of being too big. At least in America.

Honestly, their quality is still better than most in America. It's just that they've started to overtake the Big American 2.5 so the media latches on to each and every recall they send out. What's likely happening is these guys are jumping ship to a higher salary and bigger position. He was only a regional manager with Toyota, now he's the COO of Audi. That's a hell of a leap considering the positions between Regional Manager and COO had he stayed at Toyota.

That's true. I would've done the same if I were in his shoes. Toyota doesn't pay that spectacularly. That's why my friend is working for Mercedes instead.

yeah i have a friend working for Tesla. she makes a lot of dough.

Any hookups there? I know my friend can get discounted Mercedes plus free work since he's doing it.