Suzuki Motor’s chairman steps down after 40 years of service

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s 91-year-old chairman, Osamu Suzuki, announced that he will be parting ways with the company after four decades of service. Suzuki will step down as head of the company in June 2021 to allow for a new leader to shift operations towards electric vehicle development and production.

According to reports from Reuters, Suzuki has been chairman of the company- which was originally founded by his wife’s grandfather- for the last 40 years, but has now made the decision to pass his legacy onto his son Toshihiro Suzuki, who is already the acting president and CEO of the automaker.

Osamu Suzuki first joined Suzuki Motor in 1958. He then became president in 1978 before taking up the role as chairman in 2000. During his tenure, Suzuki managed to establish the company as one of the top compact carmakers in the world, with the ability to go head-to-head with the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai.

His decision to step down as chairman of the company comes after the automaker celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020.

Toshihiro Suzuki will now be tasked with following in the footsteps of other carmakers and reducing its global emissions. While speaking to the press on Wednesday, Toshihiro said, “Carbon neutral is the focus now. Suzuki must not fall behind this global trend.”

While Osamu Suzuki will no longer be the chairman of the Suzuki, he will still have a role to play in the company, as he will “remain active” as a senior adviser going forward, according to Reuters.

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