Honda Motor Co. Ltd. named Toshihiro Mibe, head of its research and development arm, as the new chief executive officer of the company. Mibe, who is a director at the company, will replace Takahiro Hachigo, who has held the CEO role for six years. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Seiji Kuraishi will remain in his post to support Mibe. The company announced that it was not immediately clear whether Hachigo would retain a position at the company with Mibe as CEO. Mibe, joined the company in 1987, taking part in engine development as well as managing powertrain and drivetrain businesses. His career includes an operating officer stint in 2014 and he is currently also in charge of intellectual property and standardisation. After becoming Honda research and development president in 2019.