Suzuki GB and Suzuki Republic of Ireland has a new man in charge, with current MD Takanori Suzuki retiring from the company at the end of May and returning home to Japan. He’ll be replaced by Kazuyuki Yamashita, who joins in April from Suzuki Deutschland, where he’s been MD since 2021.

This was Takanori Suzuki’s second term as UK managing director, having first headed the company’s Milton Keynes HQ from 2005 to 2010 before moving back to Japan to lead Suzuki Europe, Suzuki Oceania and Suzuki Latin America. Takanori’s career with Suzuki Motor Corporation has spanned over four decades.

Kazuyuki Yamashita has also been with Suzuki for nearly 40 years, working at the Hamamatsu head office and at Japanese domestic and overseas subsidiaries since 1987. He previously worked at Suzuki Canada from 2001 to 2006, and as managing director of Suzuki Auto South Africa from 2007 to 2013, before his most recent move to Suzuki Deutschland.