Murakami starts role as Isuzu PH chief today

After seven fruitful years of leading the brand in the country, Hajime Koso has officially passed the Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) leadership to the new company president, Noburo Murakami.

The leadership turnover was held yesterday with the outgoing chief executive — joined by executives, and members of the motoring media — leading the warm welcome for Murakami.

“It’s been an honor working for Isuzu Philippines for the past seven years. I truly admire the dedication and resilience of the Filipino people, especially our team members in IPC. The last two years has been the most challenging, but we emerged stronger with the support of everyone in IPC including our business partners, to which I am truly grateful,” Koso said.­

Meanwhile, Murakami — who is the former Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) General Manager — will hold office starting today. He will oversee the IPC operations and the development of its dealer network across the country.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the market dynamics of the ASEAN region. The Philippines has become one of the most emerging markets when it comes to automotive, as seen in the numerous models being introduced year after year, so it really makes me excited to start working in this country,” Murakami said. 

Murakami started his career in IML back in 1995 handling international sales. He then worked under IML Corporate Planning from 2003 to 2011 before being assigned as Isuzu North America Corporation (INAC) Vice President in 2014. He then became INAC Vice president in 2016. The executive was promoted after two years as INAC President and Chief Executive Officer up to 2020 before moving back to Japan to serve as IML General Manager for International Sales.

Further, Murakami vowed to continue IPC’s long reign as the leading truck brand in the country. 

“Being on top puts more challenges on us; we cannot be complacent with what we currently offer. As always, our key is to listen to our customers. If there is anything to improve, it has to be aligned with our customer’s needs and business requirements. Satisfying these needs at every touchpoint — whether for sales or aftersales — will pave our way towards achieving ultimate ‘Customer Success’,” Murakami noted.

Further, IPC also shared that as part of its 25th inaugural anniversary celebration for the year, the company is working towards a more sustainable path.

“As the number one truck brand, we have an even bigger responsibility to society. For IPC, sustainability is no longer a choice but rather our way forward. We understand that as a social obligation, our company must put priority into protecting the environment without compromising customer success, if we want to continue doing business in the future,” Murakami said.

“This movement should not only be reflected in our products but also from within, meaning changes in our values, operations, and the way we do business moving forward. This is something that we want to instill to our team members and dealer network starting this year: a shift in mindset and priority towards a ‘Greener’ era for IPC,” he added.

The company explained that the new direction is part of their corporate goal to build an "Isuzu Kingdom” in the future, where they would provide the best business solutions coupled with excellent aftersales service while contributing to the welfare of the society and the environment.

Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV

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