• by Tanya Gazdik , October 25, 2023

Toyota Motor North America is promoting longtime marketing employee Michael Tripp to group vice president, Toyota Division marketing, its top marketing position in North America.

Effective immediately, Tripp will be responsible for all Toyota division advertising, merchandising, media, incentives, analytics and motorsports. He will report to David Christ, group vice president and general manager, Toyota Division, TMNA.

Tripp, whose job up to now was vice president of vehicle marketing and communications, a position he held for nearly three years, replaces Lisa Materazzo, who left the company in September to take the CMO position at Ford Motor Co. 

He has worked at Toyota nearly his entire career, joining the automaker in 1995 after serving for six years in the Army National Guard. Prior to that he spent less than a year as a casting intern and general employment cast member at Walt Disney World, according to his LinkedIn profile.

At Toyota, Tripp started as a customer relations representative and went on to hold a variety of sales, operations and marketing-related roles at both Toyota division and Lexus, the automaker’s luxury division.

His positions also included general manager Lexus brand communications and experience for Lexus Europe in Belgium. Tripp also spent two years in Japan as Lexus International’s Brand Management Division - Global Brand Strategy. He also spent two years as national field operations manager for Toyota’s Scion brand.

Joe Moses, general manager, vehicle marketing and communications, has been promoted to Tripp’s previous position. He will be responsible for crafting Toyota’s marketing strategy and bringing it to life through creative asset development, brand and product training and the Toyota Dealer Association.

Moses has also spent the better part of his career at Toyota, starting in 2007 as a vehicle field sales manager  in Toyota’s Los Angeles region. He has held a variety of positions at both Toyota and Lexus.