Tetsuo Iwamura is the executive vice president, executive officer, representative director, and corporate brand officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC). He also became chairman of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., effective April 1, 2014.

Prior to becoming chairman of American Honda, Mr. Iwamura held additional regional responsibilities in North America, including president CEO of American Honda, as well as president of Honda North America and chief operating officer of North American Regional Operations for Honda Motor Co.

Prior to becoming president of American Honda in 2007, Mr. Iwamura served as president of three major South American subsidiaries -- Honda South America Ltda., Honda Automoveis do Brasil Ltda. and Moto Honda da Amazonia Ltda., as well as the chief operating officer, Regional Operations South America.

Mr. Iwamura began his career with Honda in 1978. After three years in the Parts Division of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., he joined Canadian Honda (now Honda Canada, Inc.) in the area of automobile marketing. In this role he helped conduct the feasibility study and construction of Honda of Canada Mfg. and the launch of the plant's first product (Accord), introduce the U.S.-made Accord in Canada and launch sales of the new Acura Division in 1987.

In fall 1987, Mr. Iwamura returned to Japan to work in a domestic auto sales branch in the Kanagawa Prefecture for two years. In 1989, he joined Honda of the U.K., helping launch sales of the Concerto model and the start-up of Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing Ltd.– Honda's automobile and engine production operation in the U.K. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Iwamura served as the president of Honda Deutschland GmbH in a challenging economic market after the reunification of East and West Germany.

Following one year at Honda Motor Europe Ltd., as general manger of European auto sales, Mr. Iwamura returned to Japan as general manager of the North America Sales Division in 1999. In 2000, he became COO of the Parts Division of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and, in June 2000, a director of the Board of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

In 2003 through April 2007, Mr. Iwamura served as the COO of South America Regional Operations for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and president of three major Honda subsidiaries in Brazil – overseeing the rapid growth of Honda's automobile sales operations, the growth of auto production in Brazil and the continued growth of motorcycle production and sales operations.

Mr. Iwamura was named a managing director of the Board of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., in 2006, senior managing director two years later, and representative director in 2012. He joined American Honda as the president and CEO in April 2007.

Mr. Iwamura graduated from Tsukuba University in 1978 with an M.A. in Area Studies.

# # #