YAMAHA'S RICK JOHNSON RETIRES

KENNESAW, GA — Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. has announced that, after 34 years of distinguished service, Rick Johnson has retired. Rick Johnson’s longtime service to Yamaha will be remembered for both his dedication and successful undertaking of a broad range of strategic initiatives and product launches.

Joining Yamaha in 1969, Johnson began a wide range of sales and management positions involving virtually every product line that Yamaha Motors has sold in the past 35 years. In 1969, Johnson was the first employee of the newly formed Yamaha snowmobile division. Johnson then became Motorsports District Manager for the Southeast, and, following a move to Cypress, CA, became the sales and marketing manager for new products, Power Products, Race Karts, Riva Scooters and Golf Cars. After successfully launching those products, Johnson became Motorsports District Manager in the Northwest.

In 1991, Johnson moved to Mexico as the only American to hold a position of General Manager and New Business Development Manager of a foreign company working for Yamaha Motor Mexico, Ltd. After his assignment in Mexico, Johnson moved back to the U.S. to start the Yamaha LakeRunner project. He subsequently served as WaterCraft Division interim Marketing Manager and Government Relations / Education Manager. After launching the original Yamaha Boat project, he then served as Regional Manager for Yamaha’s Century and Cobia Boat brands, developing and expanding the original dealer network for all three product lines. Johnson has been most recently the Senior District Manager for the Southwest for Yamaha WaterCraft in LaQuinta, CA.

“Rick Johnson is a man who has lived a life that anyone interested in motorized recreational products would consider a dream come true,” said Mark Speaks, Yamaha WaterCraft Group president. “He has always performed at the highest level, being named District Manager of the Year multiple times, and earning a room full of awards. He is truly one of a kind, and it has been a privilege to know him and to work with him.”
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