Toyota Veteran Named to Head Australian Operations

Matthew Callachor moves into what could be one of the Australian auto industry’s better jobs: president and CEO of the local operations of Toyota.

Toyota Australia is by far the most successful brand Down Under. Last year its 216,566 sales were up 33% year-on-year and it was the 13th time it has sold more than 200,000 vehicles in a year in the country.

It also was the 21st time Toyota has led the Australian new-vehicle market, including the past 15 years in a row.

For Callachor, 56, his move into the top position in Australia is the culmination of a 36-year career with Toyota. It follows 18 months as Toyota Australia’s vice-president where he was responsible for the sales, marketing, product planning, corporate services and finance divisions.

In 2014, Callachor became the first Australian executive to oversee a Lexus division in Japan when he was named general manager of global Lexus planning, a position he held for three years.

At Lexus, he played a leading role in developing the medium- to long-term strategy for the luxury brand, including last year’s launch of the “Experience Amazing” tagline.

Earlier, Callachor spent two years with Toyota Motor Sales USA, working in sales and marketing for the automaker’s largest market.

He began his career at Toyota Australia as a marketing analyst in 1982. His career advanced rapidly to include regional sales manager in Queensland and general manager roles for national sales and then national marketing.

On his return to Australia from the U.S., Callachor directed a project to create the company’s first customer-service division and that led to his appointment as its divisional manager.

In 2005, he moved into the senior national marketing role. A year later, he was named head of sales and marketing after those units were combined.

Next, he moved to leadership of national service, parts, logistics and warehousing, a key support division for Toyota’s national network of more than 210 dealerships.

In 2010, he became a director of Toyota Australia and was named executive director for sales and marketing.