Toyota NZ stalwart calls time after 45-year career

Toyota New Zealand has confirmed that one of its longest-standing staffers is retiring from the industry after more than four decades in the industry. 

The firm’s general manager of after sales, Spencer Morris, will clock out for the last time on December 31 after holding the role for the last 15 years, having also held roles in customer service, finance, and business planning over his tenure with the company. 

Morris worked at Toyota New Zealand for 37 years, following on from an eight-year period working for General Motors as a product engineer, among other roles.

“There has been a great deal of change over my time in the New Zealand motor industry and being part of a Toyota team that has constantly adapted, always with the mindset of what is right for the customer, is something that I am immensely proud of,” says Morris. 

“The industry is faced with some daunting and exciting challenges over the coming years, and I am confident that the team I leave behind are well equipped to tackle and triumph over these.”

Toyota New Zealand says Morris was “hugely instrumental in championing new technology”, having been a big advocate for hybrid powertrains long before they became mainstream fare. 

“Spencer has always been a key contributor to Toyota’s core principle of continuous improvement. He is pragmatic and persistent,” says Toyota New Zealand CEO Neeraj Lala.

“He just gets the right stuff done.”