SHIFTING GEARS

Mike Martinez

With Mike Chrzanowski being named President and CEO of Yamaha Motor Corp USA, (see the current issue: https://issuu.com/dealernews/docs/issue_1_january/16) comes word of a couple corresponding promotions within the ranks. Mike Martinez, formerly VP of the Motorsports Division has been promoted to President of Motorsports. Martinez will be supported in the role by Kaz Abe, VP of Motorsports Operations; Chas Caraway, VP of Business Planning & Strategy; and Mike Doughty, General Manager of Sales. Martinez began his career with Yamaha in Cypress, California, in 1994, after relocating from Boston following the completion of his MBA from Bentley University. He started in product planning where he worked on products like the first Raptor and Grizzly 4×4 ATVs and original Rhino side-by-side.

More recently, Martinez led the relocation of the Motorsports Group to its current base in Marietta, Georgia. Since this move, the Motorsports Business Unit has returned to strong profitability while navigating the recent challenges brought on by both COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions. Martinez says his vision for the future, “prioritizes building a profitable business foundation, strengthening dealer network partnerships and ensuring that the Motorsports Division exceeds the needs and expectations of the next generation of Yamaha customers.”

Yamaha also announced Craig Hewitt has been promoted to President/CEO of Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A. Hewitt joined Yamaha in 2020 to support the company’s continued growth in the powersports and marine segments. Prior to joining Yamaha, he served as CEO of Carfinance.com and has 25 years consumer finance experience with GM Financial, HSBC Auto Finance and Capital One Auto Finance. While his predecessor Jeff Young’s role was building YMFUS from the ground up, Hewitt’s vision is to strengthen the captive finance company. He plans to lead the way with technology making it easier for both consumers and dealers to engage YMFUS, expanding opportunities for new customers and investing in the core competencies—Loan Origination, Loan Servicing and Risk Management—to deliver an industry leading customer experience.

“I am truly honored to be named President and CEO of Yamaha Financial Services,” said Hewitt. “Our business has changed and evolved dramatically during the past two years and I couldn’t be more excited to lead our Team at YMFUS during this time of truly great opportunity and expanding engagement with our customers.”

Meanwhile, Jeff Young moves up to Chairman, YMFUS, and concurrently has been named Executive Officer at YMC. In his new role as Executive Officer, Young will be responsible for creating and leading a global finance company responsible for all YMC group finance companies in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.