MIAMI, FL – October 16, 2014 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – The readers of People en Español selected Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president of the Hispanic Business Strategy Group at Toyota Motor North America as one of the 25 Most Powerful Latinas of 2014. Pineda joined co-honorees at a gala luncheon here today. This is the fifth consecutive year that the magazine recognizes a select group of Latinas from the arts, business, journalism and community service who are known for exceptional valor, determination and strength in their pursuits.
“I feel very grateful to have had such a successful career at Toyota, and am truly honored to be in the company of Latina trailblazers”
As the highest-ranking Hispanic executive at Toyota North America, Pineda leads a newly formed strategy group chartered with taking Toyota’s number-one position in Hispanic consumer preference to new levels. Her 30-year career with the world’s largest automaker has included roles as general counsel and head of the Toyota U.S.A. Foundation and national philanthropy.
Born in California to Mexican-American parents, Pineda relies on her cultural heritage to inform her work bringing Toyota closer to Hispanic consumers through community engagement and programs for social good, like Abróchate a la Vida, the child car safety education program from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital which now operates in 14 cities.
“I feel very grateful to have had such a successful career at Toyota, and am truly honored to be in the company of Latina trailblazers,” Pineda said. “I hope that my example will inspire junior and mid-career Latinas to pursue their dreams in corporate America or whatever their field of interest may be.”
The recognition of People en Español‘s 25 Most Powerful Latinas was made possible by an online poll of readers with the winners garnering the most votes overall. The special edition of the magazine hit newsstands on October 10.
About Toyota
Toyota, the world’s top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we’ve built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. To date, Toyota has contributed more than $700 million to nonprofits in the U.S. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com/usa.
Photo Caption:
Toyota’s Patricia Salas Pineda was named to the elite group of People en Español’s 25 Most Powerful Latinas of 2014 (25 Más Poderosas) at a VIP luncheon held on October 16 at the Coral Gables Country Club. (l.-r.) “Poderosa” Bárbara Bermudo, co-anchor, Univision’s Primer Impacto; Monique Manso, publisher, People en Español; and Patricia Salas Pineda, group vice president, Hispanic Business Strategy Group, Toyota Motor North America.