CYPRESS, Calif., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced that effective January 1, 2009, Shinichi Kurihara (59) will succeed Hiroshi Harunari as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA).

With the fulfillment of his three-year term, Hiroshi Harunari returns to Japan for reassignment within Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. As President and CEO of MMNA, Harunari made strides improving dealer communication and vastly helped instill a culture of greater fiscal responsibility in day-to-day operations. Harunari presided over the successful launches of the current Eclipse Spyder, Outlander and Lancer products that currently comprise the majority of the company's sales volume.

Incoming President and CEO, Shinichi Kurihara, returns to MMNA for his third assignment in the United States from his current position of Senior Executive Officer in the Product Strategy Office where he is responsible for directing and coordinating all matters relating to MMC's product planning activities worldwide, in addition to long-term marketing and brand development.

Kurihara's previous U.S. assignments were from 1984-1988 in product planning and marketing where he gained a solid foundation understanding consumer habits. He returned to MMNA between 1996 and 2001 where he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Product Strategy and oversaw an aggressive series of product launches.

Kurihara intends to capitalize on Mitsubishi's core brand attributes that strongly differentiate Mitsubishi in the marketplace. He also will take an active role in reinforcing the success of Lancer and Outlander to help energize Galant, Eclipse and the exciting forthcoming products.

Kurihara believes true success will come from developing programs that integrate product development, manufacturing and sales, which leads to a more effective and efficient Mitsubishi and a highly engaged dealer network.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 480 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors Corporation