Carlos (Shozo) Kibata, who guided Toyo’s sales and marketing efforts in North America and was instrumental in the company building its first U.S. plant, passed away on June 26. He was 64.
Most recently, Kibata was chairman of Toyo Tire Holdings of the Americas, the umbrella company under which both the sales and marketing efforts and production facility fell. Until recently, he also served as a corporate executive officer for Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. in Japan.
Kibata spent his entire 41-year career with Toyo, joining the company in 1969. He took his first U.S. assignment with the Toyo Tire USA Corp. sales department from 1978 to 1986. After returning to Japan, he became general manager of Toyo’s international overseas division from 1993 to 1996, then returned to North America as president of Toyo Tire Canada Inc. from 1996 to 1999.
Kibata took the helm of Toyo Tire USA in 1999, as president. He took on the additional duties of president of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. when Toyo opened its White, Ga., tire plant in 2004. In 2008, with the establishment of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas, Kibata was elevated to its first president.
Kibata was also active outside of his official corporate roles, having previously served as president of the Japan Business Association of Southern California.
