TOKYO, Japan--Mazda Motor Corporation's President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, was named 2006 Person of the Year by the Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference of Japan (RJC). Imaki was presented the award on November 14, during the RJC Car of the Year awards ceremony. At the first RJC Car of the Year awards, held in 1991, then Chairman of the Board, Kenichi Yamamoto, was also acknowledged as the RJC Person of the Year. It has been 14 years since a Mazda executive has been presented with this prestigious award.

2005/8/25 New Mazda Roadster publicity event in Japan

Hisakazu Imaki, president and CEO of Mazda, commented, "I am very pleased to receive this wonderful award. Winning it was in large part due to the support of our many suppliers, our dealers all over the world, our business partners, including the Ford Motor Company and, in particular, due to the support of our customers and fans throughout the globe. I would like to share the pleasure of receiving this award with every employee in the Mazda Group."