Toyota GB appoints Augustin Martin as president and managing director

Toyota GB has appointed Augustin Martin as president and managing director as current incumbent Paul Van der Burgh plans to retire in Northumberland.

Martín, currently CEO of the London based Toyota Connected Europe (TCEU) and Vice President Connected Technologies at Toyota Motor Europe, will officially take up the post from October 1.

In his current role Martín has focused on developing the key digital technologies that will enable Toyota future mobility, having business built an extensive career within Toyota European operations.

Toyota GB said in a statement issued this afternoon (September 11) that Martín – originally from Valencia – has a Masters degree in Business Studies, specialising in Marketing, from the University of Valencia (1987-1992).

His career with the Japanese carmaker began in 1995 and has included spells as president and CEO of Toyota Spain (from 2015), Toyota Motor Europe (TME) marketing sirector (from 2012) and previously TME product planning general manager.

Dr Johan van Zyl, the president and chief executive of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “I would like to thank Paul for his great contribution to the success, and particularly the transformation of, Toyota GB over what has been a period of rapid change in the industry.  I wish him a long and healthy retirement.”

“I am sure Augustín is a very worthy successor and will use his experience, especially in mobility and connected technologies, to keep Toyota GB at the forefront of customer satisfaction.”

Van der Burgh, who said that he is retiring to Northumberland, a region which he described as “one of the most beautiful parts of the world”, was appointed president and managing director of Toyota GB in July 2015 following a series of executive roles in Toyota Motor Europe, including marketing director and director of the Lexus brand.

Toyota’s statement acknowledged that Van der Burgh had fostered pioneering solutions and technologies such as online sales and mobility as a service during his tenure.

It added: “A notable achievement during Van der Burgh’s tenure is Toyota GB’s success in terms of employee engagement and satisfaction, as testified by the 2020 Sunday Times Best Companies employee engagement survey where the firm ranked 15th and #1 within the industry.

“Van der Burgh also supported a range of diversity initiatives as a founder member of the Automotive 30% Club.”

Last year Van der Burgh was named the winner of an Outstanding Leadership award at the 2019 Autocar Awards.

Earlier this week Toyota was the third-best rated OEM in the Summer 2020 National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Dealer Attitude Survey.

Franchisees scored the brand 9.0-out-of-10 (average: 6.0) when asked to rank it ‘overall as a franchise partner, finishing just behind Lexus (9.5) and Kia (9.4) but 1pt ahead of fourth-placed Mercedes-Benz (8.0).