• by Tanya Gazdik , June 28, 2024

Jeff Buchanan has a new marketing focus at Toyota Motor North America.

Buchanan, who has spent nearly four years as vice president of sales, takes on the new role of vice president of marketing and communications.

The role was previously held by Joe Moses, who is now vice president, Lexus guest experience.

Buchanan reports to Mike Tripp, who remains group vice president, Toyota division marketing, a position he shifted into last October. It was previously held by Lisa Materazzo, who left Toyota last September to become global CMO of Ford Motor Co. 

Damon Rose, formerly vice president of sales at Lexus, replaced Buchanan as vice president of sales at Toyota. 

Buchanan, who assumed the new role in March, was general manager for Toyota’s New York sales region earlier in his career.

He was quoted with his new title in a press release announcing a new initiative for the Toyota Corolla, the short brand film “Getaway Driver” created with SiriusXM, which is part of a national ad and media campaign supporting the Corolla Hybrid.

The film features internet comedian and actor King Bach and pays homage to the ever popular psycho-horror genre. It marks Bach’s first foray into television commercial advertising.

“Sometimes, we all need to stretch and push boundaries and just have a little fun,” Buchanan says in the release. “I think this over-the-top, humor-driven creative execution of Getaway Driver for the Corolla Hybrid Nightshade does just that.”

The campaign is from multicultural marketing communications agency Burrell Communications Group, one of Toyota’s roster of marketing partners.