Albert (Al) Smith, Jr. is group vice president, chief social innovation officer for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), where he is responsible for the organization’s shared impact, including philanthropy efforts, the Toyota USA Foundation, and the corporate diversity and inclusion strategy. In addition, Smith is responsible for the organization’s environmental sustainability function across North America.
Prior to his current position, Smith was group vice president, Service Operations & Corporate Planning for Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and Lexus Financial Services (LFS). In this role, Smith was responsible for U.S. customer service and field service operations of TFS/LFS, including their individual Customer Service, Asset Protection, Central Recovery and Fraud departments. Smith led a team of more than 1,800 associates with a portfolio of 4.4 million customers of Toyota’s financing, leasing, and insurance-related products. Smith was also responsible for TFS Corporate Strategy, Communications, and Corporate Social Responsibility departments.
Smith also served as vice president of Customer Service in the Lexus Division of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), where he was responsible for all U.S. activities in the Parts, Service and Customer Satisfaction departments for Lexus.
Smith joined Toyota in 1990 and has held a number of management positions at Toyota's corporate headquarters in Torrance, Calif. He served as corporate manager of TMS Corporate Fleet Operations, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV) and Toyota Rent-A-Car (TRAC). In this role, Smith directed the sales and administration of products and services to U.S. fleet and commercial customers, and set the strategic direction for the TCUV and TRAC programs. Smith also served as corporate manager of sales strategy where he led the field study for Toyota's re-entry into the full-size truck market. Additionally, Smith worked as corporate manager of Toyota's Office of the Web, a group of marketing and technology professionals organized to unify Toyota's e-commerce programs.
Prior to joining Toyota, Smith worked as a senior management consultant for Lorien Systems and KPMG.
Smith serves as executive advisor of Toyota’s African American Collaborative, has chaired the Boy Scouts of America’s Thunderbird District, and has served as a sponsor board member of FFA Foundation. Smith is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the Los Angeles Council on World Affairs.
A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, in Long Beach, Calif., Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and computer science.
