Isuzu PH president bids farewell after 7-year term

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) will say goodbye to its current president, Hajime Koso. He will retire at the end of March 2022 after a seven-year stint (the longest tenure for a Japanese executive that we know of) as the head of the automaker’s subsidiary in the country.

Koso became IPC president on April 27, 2015. He started his career with Isuzu in 1980 after graduating from college and held various positions around the world, including General Manager for the North and South Americas Division.

Under Koso’s leadership, Isuzu achieved its 300,000 sales milestone, opened up a new parts hub in Metro Manila (making parts delivery to different dealerships nationwide easier). His guidance also helped the brand launch the Isuzu Mobile Medic service, the brand’s Dealer Expansion program, and introduced a new Isuzu Outlet Standardization, just to name a few.

Despite the pandemic during the final years of Koso’s management, Isuzu still launched several all-new models while maintaining its position as the number one truck brand in the country.

Koso leaves IPC after carving a sustainable path for the brand in the Philippines. He will be succeeded by Noboru Murakami, a senior executive from Isuzu Motors Limited, Japan (IML).

Murakami brings years of experience and expertise in the truck industry that will help solidify the company’s number one position in the Philippine truck market.

We say congratulations and happy retirement to Koso while we wish Murakami the best of luck as the new IPC president.