Honda announced today that Takanobu Ito, currently president of the Japanese company, will step down in June.
 

Takahiro Hachigo, currently the company’s Managing Officer, will become Senior Managing Officer effective in April 2015, and will become President, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director in late June 2015. Takanobu Ito will remain on the board and assume the post of Director and Advisor to Honda Motor. 
 
During the six years of Ito’s leadership, Honda was able to increase its global manufacturing structure with the establishment of automobile plants in Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, India and China, countries with a huge potential in automotive industry.
 
On the other side, Hachigo joined Honda in 1982, and began his career in its automobile research and development operations, principally as an engineer in the area of chassis design.
 
Hachigo was in charge of developing the first-generation of U.S.-built Odyssey minivan, which was launched in 1999 primarily for the U.S. market. Hachigo went on to assume responsibilities as the person-in-charge of developing the second generation CR-V.