Mitsubishi Motors appoint new president and COO

Takao Kato to transition to chairman and CEO role

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is getting new leadership by the start of the fiscal year 2026.

The Japanese automaker has appointed Keisuke Kishiura as the new representative executive officer, president, and COO. Current president and chief executive Takao Kato will continue as CEO, and is set to become Chairman of the Board once Mitsubishi conducts its Board of Directors’ meeting in June.

This will be the first time in five years that Mitsubishi will have its president changed, with Kishiura being the second consecutive president drawn from within the company. Mitsubishi says the changes will be made to strengthen the company’s management foundation by revitalizing its management structure and clarifying executive responsibilities.

The automaker’s committee has also nominated three director candidates, who will be proposed at the annual general meeting of shareholders – those include Kato, Kishiura and outside director Tomofumi Hiraku.

The 56-year-old Kishiura joined Mitsubishi Motors in 1993 and held roles across human resources, corporate social responsibility, and EV business development. Most recently, he was Mitsubishi’s vice president and division general manager in the America division before becoming a corporate officer and division general manager of Corporate Planning in April 2025.

Lately, Mitsubishi has been making the headlines by being open to collaborating with other manufacturers, especially in the United States, where high tariffs weigh heavily on operations. Considering Kishiura’s previous experiences, Mitsubishi could be doing this as a chess move to better tackle the challenges ahead.

As for the Philippines, MMC has reassured that it will continue to prioritize the country as one of its key markets.