Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) announced the expansion of its executive team in an effort to further strengthen the North American regional operations and distribution channels of its two brands, Toyota and Raymond.
Effective immediately, Brett Wood has been promoted to executive vice president of TMHNA. TMHNA is a management and organization structure over both the Toyota and Raymond brands’ North American material handling equipment business and manufacturing organizations. Wood will continue to serve on the boards of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU) and Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), Toyota’s forklift manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ind. In his new role, Wood will lead several strategic TMHNA assignments in sales, marketing and operations to accelerate synergies between TMHU, TIEM and Raymond. Wood previously served as president of Irvine, Calif.-based TMHU from 2009 to 2011.
Jeff Rufener will take the helm as president of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. Rufener joins Toyota after most recently serving as vice president of marketing for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. He brings more than 30 years of material handling industry and executive experience to Toyota.
"In 2010, we formalized TMHNA’s management and operations structure to strengthen the North American regional brands of Toyota and Raymond," said James Malvaso, president and chief executive officer of TMHNA. "Today, we are adding more talent to the team. Brett’s position is critical to the future direction of TMHNA, and Jeff brings a wealth of leadership and material handling knowledge that will help further strengthen TMHU."
TMHNA is comprised of TIEM, TMHU and The Raymond Corporation, provider of electric lift trucks and products used in warehouse and distribution environments.
