Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA) has announced that Patricia Pineda has been named group vice president of corporate communications and general counsel at the company's New York office.

Prior to joining TMA, Pineda was a twenty-year veteran of New United Motor Manufacturing ("NUMMI"), Toyota's joint venture with General Motors Corp. Most recently she served as vice president of human resources and legal as well as corporate secretary. As vice president of human resources, she was responsible for all aspects of NUMMI's human resources functions, including leading the contract negotiations with the UAW. In addition, Pineda served as the company's general counsel and corporate secretary and was responsible for all corporate governance matters and government affairs.

Pineda will assume her new role at Toyota effective September 1, 2004.