Toyota promotes Erik Skaggs to president of motor manufacturing at Mississippi, Blue Springs (TMMMS)

Toyota Motor North America has announced the appointment of Erik Skaggs as the President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi (TMMMS), effective October 23rd.

Erik Skaggs’ journey with Toyota began in 1993 when he joined the team as an engineer at the Georgetown, Kentucky facility. Over the years, Skaggs has demonstrated his expertise and dedication in various leadership capacities, including quality control, body operations and production. In 2015, his contributions led to his appointment as General Manager. In 2020, Skaggs transitioned to Toyota Mississippi as the Vice President of Manufacturing and, most recently, served as the Vice President of Administration.

Expressing his gratitude for this new opportunity, Skaggs remarked, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and continue to develop Toyota Mississippi. I’ve seen first-hand the commitment and dedication our workforce and community have to offer, and I’m looking forward to future opportunities for growth and development as a company and as a community partner.”

Toyota expressed that outgoing President, David Fernandes, has been instrumental in Toyota Mississippi’s success over the past three years. The OEM has voiced that Fernandes’ dedicated leadership has resulted in significant accomplishments for the plant, including the inauguration of a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot interactive experience centre and the production of over 500,000 Corollas; the world’s best-selling vehicle.

With a total investment of $1.2bn and a workforce of approximately 2,400 employees, the OEM highlights that TMMMS continues to be integral to the economic growth and technological advancement in the region.

Fernandes will transition to his new role as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, where he will undoubtedly bring his wealth of experience to drive excellence in manufacturing operations.

Reflecting on his time at Toyota Mississippi, Fernandes stated, “it’s been a privilege to be a part of the continued development of this plant alongside such hardworking, dedicated employees who are passionately focused on the safety and quality of our vehicles. Northeast Mississippi is known for inspiring others throughout the state with many initiatives centering on education, community development, and workforce. And, I’m proud to have played a role in that during my time at Toyota Mississippi.”

Toyota Mississippi represents the automaker’s commitment to innovation and community development. With a total investment of $1.2bn and a workforce of approximately 2,400 employees, the OEM highlights that the plant continues to be integral to the economic growth and technological advancement in the region.

An official press release emphasised that this leadership transition marks an exciting chapter in Toyota’s journey, reinforcing the company’s dedication to excellence in manufacturing and its enduring partnership with the communities it serves. As Erik Skaggs assumes his new role as President of TMMMS, the future promises continued growth, innovation and positive impact for Toyota Mississippi and beyond, according to the OEM.