Honda Names Brazilian Mizoguchi First Foreigner on Board

Honda Motor Co. (7267), Japan’s third-largest automaker, named Issao Mizoguchi as an operating officer. Mizoguchi, a senior vice president at Honda’s South American business, was among executive changes announced by the Tokyo-based carmaker today. He is a Brazilian national, Tomoko Takemori, a spokeswoman for Honda, said by phone. Mizoguchi joined Honda’s Brazilian business in 1985 and was most recently serving as senior vice president of Honda South America, according to a company biography. Honda is forecasting its biggest annual profit in six years after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies weakened the yen about 18 percent last year, boosting the value of cars exported from Japan. Still, Honda is expanding overseas capacity as it seeks to produce more vehicles where it sells them and minimize risks from foreign-exchange fluctuations. Last year, it produced 80 percent of its vehicles overseas. Source :  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-24/honda-to-name-first-foreigner-as-board-director-official-says.html