Toyota Motor North America is folding its quality function under supply chain Group VP Kevin Austin, effective July 13. Tom Trisdale, who previously ran quality as a separate Group VP, will now report to Austin. The change gives one executive authority over both parts flow and supplier quality.
What changed: The reshuffle puts one executive in charge of both supply continuity and part acceptance.
Kevin Austin (supply chain Group VP): adds quality oversight; keeps service parts, logistics, new product introduction and supply chain strategy
Tom Trisdale (Quality Group VP): now reports to Austin instead of running a separate function
Kensuke Morita (vehicle supply chain Group VP): absorbs demand and supply planning plus tech transformation, moving execution one level down
Stephen Brennan: moves to Toyota Motor Corp in Japan as Chief Production Leader for the Advanced Technology Area
Austin trades tactical planning responsibilities but gains cross-functional authority over quality.
Toyota’s EVP of supply chain, Chris Nielsen, already serves as the company’s Chief Quality Officer, making quality a supply chain C-suite responsibility. The July 13 change pushes that integration one layer down, from the EVP to the Group VP level, where daily supplier decisions actually get made.
Zoom out: Other companies are also combining supply chain responsibilities, although the approaches vary.
Nike elevated CSCO Venkatesh Alagirisamy to EVP and COO in late 2025. The role combines planning and technology responsibilities
Dollar General gave its new Chief Data and AI Officer, Travis Nixon, oversight of delivery operations in addition to AI strategy
Kroger went a different way. Its new Chief Data and AI Officer, Milen Mahadevan, oversees data and AI and works with supply chain leaders but does not run supply chain itself. He reports to the Chief Digital and Technology Officer.
