Jeff Rufener

Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) has promoted Brett Wood to executive vice president and hired Jeff Rufener to serve as president of Toyota Material Handling USA Inc (TMHU), effective 21 October.

"In 2010, we formalised TMHNA's management and operations structure to strengthen the North American regional brands of Toyota and Raymond," says James Malvaso, TMHNA president and chief executive officer. "Today, we are adding more talent to the team. Brett's position is critical to the future direction of TMHNA, and Jeff brings a wealth of leadership and materials handling knowledge that will help further strengthen TMHU."

Wood was president of TMHU from 2009 to 2011 and, earlier, was TMHU vice president of product and strategic planning and training operations.

Rufener leaves his position as vice president of marketing for joint venture Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc in Houston, Texas to join TMHU. On 31 December, Rufener will complete a two-year term as the president of the Washington, DC-based Industrial Truck Association, which represents makers of forklift trucks and their suppliers doing business in the US, Canada or Mexico.

TMHNA, a management and organisation structure, is comprised of Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc in Columbus, TMHU in Irvine, California and Raymond Corp in Greene, New York. TMHNA reports to the Toyota Industries Corp in Kariya, Japan.