Latondra Newton

Latondra Newton was named Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer of The Walt Disney Company in February 2017. She leads the Company’s strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives, helping Disney and its employees around the world tell stories that entertain, enlighten and inspire. Ms. Newton partners with various business segments and leaders across the enterprise to build on Disney’s commitment to produce entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone.

Work Experience

Prior to joining Disney, Ms. Newton served as Group Vice President, Social Innovation and Chief Diversity Officer, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and Chief Program Officer, Toyota Mobility Foundation, Toyota Motor Corporation. Ms. Newton was responsible for Toyota’s diversity and inclusion, shared impact and environmental sustainability functions across national affiliates, including Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc.

Globally, Ms. Newton leads the Toyota Mobility Foundation, which was established in 2014 to advance the freedom of mobility for more people everywhere. 

Previous to her current role, Ms. Newton was the group vice president and chief diversity officer at TMA where she oversaw philanthropy, the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation and corporate diversity and inclusion strategy.

Since 2009, Ms. Newton has held leadership roles at TMA, overseeing corporate planning activities, corporate image research, economic forecasting, competitor analysis and corporate marketing.

Ms. Newton served as the assistant general manager of the human resources, management development and diversity department where she started the corporate diversity function for North American manufacturing. She was also the assistant general manager of corporate affairs, where she was responsible for state and federal legislative and regulatory activity in addition to media and community relations.

Ms. Newton has also held several leadership positions at TEMA. Ms. Newton managed the facilities and transportation purchasing department and directed the procurement of capital equipment, building construction and logistics services for North America.  She also served as general manager of the Team Member Development Center, which managed all engineering and manufacturing staff training and development initiatives in North America.

Ms. Newton began her career at Toyota in 1991 as a capital equipment buyer.

Board and Advisor Roles

As a member of the Board of Directors for the Manufacturing Institute, she is an advocate for women's careers in the manufacturing industry. In addition, Ms. Newton serves on the Board of Trustees of the New Cities Foundation, a global nonprofit whose mission is to shape a better urban future for all, as well as on the Board of Directors for the SBP, an organization that uses Toyota Production System knowledge to rebuild homes for those displaced by natural disasters.

Accolades

• Automotive News named Ms. Newton a Rising Star Under 35 in 2000, and as one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry in 2010.
• In 2014, Linkage’s Women in Leadership Institute honored her with the prestigious Passionate Champion Award. 
• In 2018, she received an honorary doctorate of management degree from her alma mater, Kettering University. 
• In 2018 and 2019, she was recognized by Black Enterprise as a top executive in corporate diversity. 
• She has been a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival and Shared Value Leadership Summit. Ms. Newton is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Business & Society Leadership Forum.

Education

Ms. Newton holds a bachelor’s degree in management systems from Kettering University.