Mitsubishi Names 2 Executives to Head Units

Financially ailing Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has promoted the head of its Illinois-based U.S. auto making unit to chairman and chief executive of all U.S. operations.

Hirao Iijima, 57, will assume the new duties at Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motors America Inc. at the end of June.

Reporting to Iijima will be Pierre Gagnon, 45, newly promoted president and chief operating officer of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, and Rich Gilligan, 57, new president of Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America. The two are the first North American executives to be presidents of Mitshbishi Motors units.