Toyoda Gosei Announces Management and Organizational Changes

Toyoda Gosei outlines management, R&D and organizational changes effective in 2026, including a new digital leadership role. Learn how the company is evolving.

Toyoda Gosei has announced a wide-ranging set of changes to management responsibilities, organizational structure and personnel, with the new framework taking effect on January 1, 2026. The decisions span multiple levels, from adjustments among senior executives to a broader reconfiguration of core headquarters and management functions.

A central element of the announcement is the creation of a new C-level role, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, with Tetsuya Ogata appointed to the position. According to the company, the CDXO will oversee both digital transformation initiatives and the stable operation of information systems. This combined mandate suggests that Toyoda Gosei is positioning digital governance as a foundation for business stability rather than a standalone technology effort.

The company is also reshaping its Research and Development Headquarters to place greater emphasis on advanced development aimed at future markets and products. New divisions focused on advanced research and materials development are being established, while existing units are reorganized or dissolved. Management functions within R&D are being reinforced, and selected engineering and electronics divisions are being transferred to the Automotive Business Management Headquarters to strengthen links between development activities and mass production.

Further changes affect the FC and WS Business Headquarters, where production engineering and development functions in the company’s core rubber-related businesses are being consolidated. By integrating previously separate units, Toyoda Gosei aims to improve efficiency, knowledge sharing and coordination within these foundational product areas.

In parallel, the company is establishing a Group & Partners Executive Leadership Development Department as a directly controlled organization. Its role extends beyond internal succession planning to include the development of next-generation management talent across the Toyoda Gosei Group and its supply chain, the transfer of executive expertise, and contributions to the sustainable growth of industries supporting Japanese manufacturing.

Taken together, the announced changes point to a long-term strategy focused on resilience and continuity. Through tighter digital oversight, a more structured R&D framework and systematic leadership development, Toyoda Gosei appears to be reinforcing its ability to support automotive manufacturers, including Toyota, amid an increasingly complex global industry environment.