Geely Philippines distributor gets new chief

GEELY country distributor Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) recently announced the appointment of Naoyuki Takeda as its new president and CEO — to assume office on Jan. 1, 2024.

In a release, SGAP said, “Takeda brings with him an extensive background and experience in the Philippine automotive industry, marking a pivotal moment in SGAP’s journey in the country’s fast-evolving automotive landscape. Takeda has been an integral part of the automotive sphere at Sojitz for quite a long time.”

Prior to his new role, Mr. Takeda “played a pivotal role” at MMPC Auto Financial Services and JACCS Finance Philippines for over six years until 2022. He is seen as having a comprehensive understanding of the automotive industry, which makes him “a seasoned expert capable of navigating the challenges and opportunities in the Philippine market.”

Said Geely Automobile International Corp. (GAIC) Regional Sales Director Will Wan when he visited the Philippines to welcome the executive, “Mr. Takeda’s appointment as President and CEO of SGAP marks an exciting new era for Geely in the Philippines. His wealth of experience and strategic vision will be key in realizing our aspiration to introduce exciting models tailored to fit the evolving Filipino auto market.”

For his part, Mr. Takeda remarked, “I am honored to lead SGAP into this new era of growth and innovation. With the support of GAIC and our dedicated team, we look forward to introducing cutting-edge mobility solutions that will bring exceptional automotive experiences for the Filipinos while we will continue improving our customer service.”

He also expressed gratitude to outgoing SGAP President and CEO Yugo Kiyofuji, stating, “I am grateful for Mr. Kiyofuji’s contributions as he leaves SGAP to focus on other aspects of the auto business in (the) Sojitz headquarters in Tokyo where his distinct management capabilities are required. He has completed his mission in SGAP in a very short time, making vast improvements in the organization, particularly in various systems processes and parts availability.”