Detroit, Mich., March 25, 2009 — John G. McCandless has been named National Manager of Field Operations for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, (TMS) Corporate Communications.
A long-time public relations professional on the automotive scene in Detroit, his new responsibilities will include corporate communications and community relations activities for Toyota’s seven regional public relations field offices located in New York, Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Seattle. He will continue to be based in Detroit.
McCandless joined TMS in 1989 and expanded the scope of the TMS Detroit office to include public relations counsel and support to four regional Toyota and Lexus regional sales offices covering 15 Midwest states. Prior to Toyota, he spent 14 years with Chrysler Corporation and American Motors. At Chrysler, he served in a number of posts, including Manager of Dodge Public Relations from 1976 to 1980 and Manager of International Public Relations from 1986 to 1990 when Chrysler began exporting to Europe, China and Japan. At American Motors, he was Manager of Sales & Marketing Communications from 1980 until 1986.
A native of Detroit, McCandless earned a B.A. in Communication from Michigan State University in 1969.
An active member of the Detroit civic community, McCandless currently is President of the Detroit Athletic Club’s Executives Club; board member of ThinkDetroit/PAL; Secretary, Automotive Press Association; Vice President, International Institute Foundation and a trustee of CATCH (Sparky Anderson’s charity for children.) He is also a retired Captain in the U. S. Naval Reserve and active in many military organizations, including the U.S. Naval Institute, The Navy Memorial, The International Armed Forces Council, Navy League of the United States, AMVETS, VFW and the American Legion.
McCandless and his wife Roberta, (Robbie,) reside in Grosse Pointe Woods. They have five grown children.
