My name is Chris Hayes. I'm the Director of our People and Planning Division ah… here at Toyota in the UK. And I've been very fortunate to be able to grow and develop in a company and a culture like Toyota's. We put people development and career planning at the very heart of what we do in the company.
Well, I've been with the company for 15 years and I started here for 3 years working in the Lexus brand. Then had ah my first of two overseas assignments. The first one was to the United States to work for Toyota Motor Sales operation in California, and the second was a three-year assignment at our European regional headquarters in Brussels. All markets are very different, (they) have very different external dynamics but Toyota has a very common set of internal values, and an internal language around the Toyota Way philosophy, where each and every team member’s contribution to the business is treated equally within the organization.
To anyone who's considering an international assignment, you know, my advice would certainly be, 100 percent, go for it. It's incredible what you can learn by studying and finding out about other markets and other organizations. I think a career in Toyota can be hugely exciting and hugely rewarding. As a company, we've got a truly unique culture. We have some of the most highly energized and engaged teams in the industry today, and if you want to be part of a hugely successful team, be fully supported and nurtured through your career to be the best that you can be, then Toyota is definitely a place for you.
