Subaru Names US Chief As Its Global President

Subaru is shaking up the ranks of its most senior leadership – both at its headquarters back home in Japan and here in America.

The colossal game of musical chairs centers around one Tomomi Nakamura. The current chairman and CEO at Subaru of America has been recalled back to Japan, where he’ll now serve as president and chief operating officer of the global Subaru Corporation (previously known as Fuji Heavy Industries).

The move will see Nakamura assuming key responsibilities from the company’s current president and CEO. Yasuyuki Yoshinaga is now moving up to the role of board chairman (while retaining the title of CEO), and will be the only officer above Nakamura. That will leave Nakamura running the day-to-day, while allowing Yoshinaga to focus on the bigger picture.

In Nakamura’s place, Subaru has named current president Thomas J. Doll as head of the US office. Doll has been with Subaru of America since 1982, and was named COO in 2009 and president in 2013.

Doll is one of the most senior non-Japanese executives on Subaru’s payroll, but along with his promotion, the company has dispatched one of its own back to New Jersey. In his new position, Doll will be supported by Jinya Shoji, Subaru’s current chief marketing officer, who will now serve as executive vice president at Subaru of America, reporting to Doll.

The moves are all subject to approval by the shareholders and board of directors that are set to meet in June. But we’d be surprised if the appointments don’t pass both meetings.