Published on April 9th, 2021 | by Subhash Nair
0Honda Malaysia Appoints Madoka Chujo As New MD and CEO
Madoka Chujo is the new head of Honda Malaysia, succeeding Toichi Ishiyama.
Honda Malaysia got its first woman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Madoka Chujo. She joined on the 1st of April 2021, succeeding Mr. Toichi Ishiyama, who was in charge here since October 2017.
Ms. Chujo’s joined Honda 23 years ago and has held roles with the company in Japan, China, Spain and most recently in Canada where she was the Vice President.
Here’s the press release with more details on this leadership transfer at Malaysia’s favourite non-national brand.
PRESS RELEASE
Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (or the Company) welcomed its first woman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Madoka Chujo who succeeded Mr. Toichi Ishiyama. Ms. Chujo officially assumed office in Malaysia on 1st April 2021.
Prior to this role, she was the Vice President at Honda Canada Inc., strategizing the Company’s Sales and Marketing since 2019. Ms. Chujo’s career in Honda started 23 years ago in 1997 and over the years, she has held various roles in Japan, China, Spain and Canada.
Her expertise and experience are in the area of Sales Strategy during her various stints in the countries she served.
Commenting on her new role at Honda Malaysia, Ms. Chujo said, “Malaysia is indeed an important market in the Asia and Oceania region with Honda Malaysia achieving various significant sales milestones and have become one of the leading automotive brands in the country. I am looking forward and excited for my first assignment as the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, and at the same time I am also eager to explore Malaysia as the country is unique and a melting pot of diverse cultures and people, with enormous potential and of course a fast-paced work environment.
Ms. Chujo’s predecessor Mr. Ishiyama, joined Honda Malaysia in November 2017 and his first launch in Malaysia was the World’s Fastest (FWD) Production Car, the Civic Type R in 2017. Throughout the following years, Mr. Ishiyama also launched various new models notably the 5thGeneration All-New City as well as the World Premiere of RS e:HEV in October 2020.
At this world premiere, Honda’s e:TECHNOLOGY initiative was officially introduced for the first time in the Asia and Oceania Region. During his tenure of over three years in Malaysia, Mr. Ishiyama successfully led Honda Malaysia to achieve 900,000 sales in 2019 and also maintained its position as the No. 1 Non-National Car Brand for six consecutive years in 2020. In addition, under Mr. Ishiyama’s watch, the Company celebrated a remarkable milestone of reaching the 1 millionth sales unit in March 2021. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as Mr. Ishiyama had to manoeuvre the Company through a challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic since March last year. Mr. Ishiyama has headed back to Japan to assume a new role in Business Automobile, Business Strategy Division, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan.