Johan van Zyl‚ chairman of Toyota SA Motors and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe‚ is being elevated from managing officer to senior managing officer by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)‚ the automotive manufacturer headquartered in Japan. The appointment will be effective from April 2017.

He will become the first African to be appointed senior managing officer by TMC‚ the company said in a statement on Friday.

Before entering the motoring industry‚ Van Zyl obtained a doctorate in commerce and lectured at the University of Potchefstroom. He was awarded professorship and consulted to various businesses.

In 1993‚ he joined Toyota and was responsible for all sales activities, as well as the dealer network. A string of promotions followed. He was elevated to the position of president and CEO of Toyota SA Motors in 2002.

In 2009‚ Van Zyl was appointed managing officer of TMC, and in 2013 he added CEO for Toyota in Africa to his responsibilities.

“His exceptional business acumen and knowledge of the industry have been strengthened over the years with travels to Japan‚ the US and into Africa‚” the company said. (TMG Digital)