Hiroshi Saijou has joined Japan-headquartered carmaker Toyota as vice-president of business development and strategy at its Research Institute – Advanced Development (TRI) division.
Saijou had previously been chief executive and then chairman of motorised vehicle manufacturer Yamaha’s corporate venturing unit, Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, from 2015.
Saijou had built up a strong team at Yamaha, including the hiring of Nolan Paul to develop an agricultural technology investment strategy, before handing over the CEO role to George Kellerman at the end of 2018.
With regards to Toyota, Saijou said it was likely he would collaborate with Toyota AI Ventures, the US-based, artificial intelligence-focused corporate venturing unit run by Jim Adler, which falls under the TRI division.
