Toyota Shareholders OK Press for Board Seat

Toyota Motor Corp.’s shareholders reportedly give the nod for Jim Press, president-Toyota Motor North America, to join the auto maker’s board of directors, making Press the first non-Japanese member of Toyota’s board.

The approval came during Toyota’s annual shareholders meeting in Tokyo today. Toyota announced Press’ appointment to its board in April, saying he would be promoted from a managing officer to a senior managing director.

Press, who previously served as head of Toyota’s U.S. sales arm, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., last year became the first non-Japanese executive to be named to head TMNA, the auto maker’s North American holding unit based in New York City.

Press joined Toyota in 1970, having previously worked for Ford Motor Co.