O.C. Execs Named to Board of Mitsubishi Motors Unit

Richard D. Recchia, top U.S. official at Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America Inc., the import and distribution arm of Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp., has been named to the board of the car maker’s troubled Illinois production company.

Also named to the board of Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing of America Inc. was Ellen Gleberman, general counsel and a vice president of Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motor Sales.

Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing in Normal, Ill., has been sued by the federal government for alleged sexual harassment of female employees. Mitsubishi also has been targeted for a U.S. boycott by the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition over issues of sexual harassment and underrepresentation of minorities among its dealers.

The company is seeking to settle the federal suit and has instituted a series of awareness programs at the manufacturing plant. It also says it would like to appoint more minority dealers but, as with most auto companies, has difficulties finding enough financially qualified candidates.

In a brief statement, Mitsubishi said the new American executives on the board “will provide the knowledge and experience needed . . . to develop the policies and procedures essential to maintaining successful operations in the U.S. market.”

Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Recchia has been executive vice president and chief operating officer of Mitsubishi Motor Sales since it was founded in 1982. Gleberman joined the sales company as senior counsel in 1989.

Mitsubishi also said that Lawrence T. Greene, executive vice president for government relations and materials procurement at the manufacturing company in Illinois, will become a member of the Orange County-based sales subsidiary’s board of directors.