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Toyota Taps CFO Kenta Kon as CEO After 43% Profit Drop

The company says the change aims to speed decisions to rebuild margins under U.S. tariff pressure.

Overview

  • Kon will succeed Koji Sato as CEO and president in April, pending shareholder approval expected in June, as Sato moves to lead JAMA and retain a Keidanren role.
  • Toyota raised its full-year profit forecast to ¥3.57 trillion, which remains about 25% below last year’s outcome.
  • Profit for the October–December quarter fell 43% to ¥1.25 trillion from a year earlier.
  • The company estimates U.S. tariffs erased ¥1.45 trillion of operating profit last year, with higher material costs also pressuring results.
  • The shake-up coincides with a contested bid to privatize Toyota Industries opposed by Elliott Investment Management, and Tokyo-listed shares rose about 2%.