Longtime Mazda NA CEO O'Sullivan Retiring, Moro Stepping In

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Mazda North American Operations CEO Jim O’Sullivan on Monday announced that he will retire at the end of the year and will be replaced by Mazda global sales chief Masahiro Moro. O’Sullivan has led Mazda for more than a decade, out from under Ford ownership and into a small, independent — but growing — U.S. automaker.

O’Sullivan took over in 2003 and helped guide the company during its split from Ford five years later. He also led Mazda through the recession and helped raise money for its facility in Mexico, which opened last year.

Moro is a longtime Mazda employee who first joined the automaker in 1983, according to the company. Most recently, Moro was responsible for global sales and marketing and has been vice president for marketing in Europe. Moro also served as director for Mazda in Australia between 2012 and 2013.

O’Sullivan had been the longest-serving senior executive for any carmaker in the U.S. before he announced his retirement, according to the automaker.

Under O’Sullivan’s tutelage, Mazda in the U.S. broke 300,000 vehicle sales in 2014 — its best year since 2002. The automaker is expected to surpass that number again for 2015.

Moro will take over for O’Sullivan beginning Jan. 1, according to Mazda.


Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • Orenwolf Orenwolf on Dec 22, 2015

    I'm just now waiting for delivery of my new Mazda6 GT with Tech Package, trading in my 2011 RX8. And I did so because, looking at the market, there really is no better sedan in this class. It's not cheap, but it's beautiful and future-proof. I had been holding out for a Diesel variant but clearly *that* isn't going to happen now, so.. :)

  • Iamwho2k Iamwho2k on Dec 22, 2015

    Memo to Moro-san: the 6 could use the new turbo four from the CX-9.

  • Tosh Tosh on Dec 22, 2015

    Miata hatch will eat Hachi-roku's lunch.

  • Zoomzoomfan Zoomzoomfan on Dec 22, 2015

    I bought a 2016 Mazda6 i Touring in October and it's truly an amazing car. I have high hopes for Mazda now and in the future.

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