Come January 1, 2018, Toyota will have a new president at its Blue Springs facility.
Sean Suggs, who currently serves as the vice president of manufacturing, will be dual capped as president and vice president of administration at the assembly plant that builds the Corolla and employs more than 1,550 people.
In this role, he will have responsibilities for all manufacturing and administrative operations.
Mr. Suggs joined Toyota Mississippi in 2013 as vice president of administration and assumed the role of manufacturing vice president in 2015.
During his time at Toyota Mississippi, Suggs has helped the plant achieve many milestones including production of one million Corollas and announcing that the plant will begin construction of a visitor center in 2018.
Among his many community and statewide initiatives, Suggs’ dedication to building a skilled workforce is evident in his work with the Toyota Wellsprings Education Fund advisory committee.
He was also recently appointed to the State Board of Education.
“In the winter of 1997 someone took a chance and hired me as a Team Leader at Toyota’s Indiana plant,” said Suggs. “It shook up my entire life. Twenty years later in the winter of 2017, I have come full circle as the president of Toyota’s Blue Springs facility. Our team members have always been my priority, and that will not change. As I honor the legacy of the presidents before me, I will build the foundation of excellence they laid for me as I continue to shape Toyota Mississippi’s future success.”
Toyota Mississippi’s current president, Akitoshi Ichino, who joined the plant in January 2017, will be assigned as TMNA Vice President of Vehicle Manufacturing and Engineering where he will be responsible for leading new projects across vehicle manufacturing plants.
“I have been honored to serve as president of Toyota Mississippi over the past year,” said Mr. Ichino. “I have much more to learn about Toyota Mississippi and the local community, so I am excited my new assignment will keep me with this team.”
