Honda revamps top management in Thailand

On April 1, Noriaki Abe will become president and chief executive of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co, the manufacturing arm, and Asian Honda Motor Co, replacing Hiroshi Kobaya-shi, who will return to Japan as managing officer of Honda Motor Co.

Abe has worked for Honda since April 1986 and was general manager of regional operations from 2011 until the present.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, executive vice president, will become the chief operating officer of Honda Automobile (Thailand) in charge of the overall business operation including manufacturing, sales and marketing. 

This is the first time that Honda has named a non-Japanese to this position, and Pitak is also the first Thai in Honda history to be entrusted with such a high-ranking role.

In Honda’s manufacturing operation, Haruhito Murai will become senior vice president, Hideaki Yamanaka a vice president and Hiroyuki Shimizu the vice president for sales and marketing operations. 

Isao Ito will take the role of executive vice president of Asian Honda Motor Co.