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New Honda President and CEO Announced

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Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Ito, who will be taking a pay cut in response to the fifth Honda Fit recall to occur in the one year since its release

Outgoing Honda CEO Takanobu Ito

Amid a series of recalls in Japan, Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ito took the first steps toward automotive seppuku when he accepted a voluntary pay cut for his transgressions back in October 2014. Now his long, ritualistic suicide is complete, as Honda announced today that Ito will be stepping down in April to be replaced with new Honda president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo.

Hachigo has been with Honda since 1982, originally as an engineer specializing in chassis design. It was Hachigo who was in charge of developing the first-generation Odyssey minivan for the US, as well as the second-gen CR-V sport utility vehicle. He served as the senior vice president of Honda R&D Americas from 2004 to 2006, before becoming the company’s managing officer.

Hachigo will be promoted from Honda’s managing officer to its president, CEO and representative director after the shareholder’s meeting in late June.

Although Honda’s US sales have continued to grow throughout the controversies, the embarrassment of the Takata airbag recalls and poor sales in Japan ultimately inspired the automaker to make a change.