American Honda vice president Jay Joseph has been named chief executive and director of Honda Australia, succeeding Yoshitaka Okamoto in his previous role.
The move comes as Carolyn McMahon, the current vice president and director of Honda Australia, has been appointed president of Honda New Zealand, effective April 1, 2025.
Honda New Zealand’s current managing director, Nobu Sonoda, will transition to director of business services and new business program for Honda Australia, supporting the company’s electrification strategy.
The company says Joseph brings 27 years of extensive experience and a deep understanding of the brand. His leadership makes him well-equipped to guide Honda Australia through its next phase of growth and innovation.
“I am thrilled to step into the role of chief executive and director at Honda Australia during this pivotal time for the company,” Joseph says.
“Carolyn has left an incredible innovation, collaboration, and customer focus legacy. I’m committed to maintaining that momentum as we evolve our operations and deliver outstanding value to our customers across Australia,” he says.
McMahon is the first female president to lead Honda’s operations in New Zealand.
With almost three decades of experience at Honda Australia, McMahon has held several leadership roles, including vice president and director.
The company says McMahon was instrumental in driving Honda’s business transformation and unifying Honda Australia (Cars) and Honda Australia MPE (Motorcycle, Power Equipment and Marine).
It says she leaves a legacy of establishing a more sustainable, customer-centric business model, and this experience makes her ideally suited to lead Honda New Zealand as its new president.
“I am honoured to take on this new role with Honda New Zealand,” McMahon says. “It’s an exciting time for the automotive industry. I look forward to working with the talented team in NZ to continue delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and further strengthening Honda’s presence in the market.”
Sonoda has been with Honda New Zealand since 2002 and has been managing director since 2014. The company says Sonoda is a testament to the “Power of Dreams” with hard work, persistence, and a passion for winning and challenging conventions.
“After 11 years leading the Honda team in New Zealand, I am delighted with the opportunity to bring this experience to the Australian market,” Sonoda says. “It is an exciting time to join Honda Australia with so much global change in the automotive industry.”
