Toyota North American CEO Is Named in Suit

Toyota Motor Corp.’s North American chief executive was accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed by a former assistant and is being transferred to a Toyota subsidiary in Japan.

Hideaki Otaka, president of Toyota’s operations in the region, and the company were named in the suit, filed in New York State Supreme Court.

Plaintiff Sayaka Kobayashi, who according to the suit worked for Otaka in New York from March 2005 through January, claims she was demoted after complaining of harassment.

Steve Curtis, a Toyota spokesman in New York, declined to comment on the lawsuit.