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John McCandless

John McCandless, “the face of Toyota in Detroit” for 20 years, has retired and opened Road Reports to provide “confidential consulting to domestic and international clients in the automotive industry,” the long-time communications pro said. He became Toyota’s Midwest Regional Communications Manager in 1990 and at retirement was National Manager for Field Operations, heading the industry’s most extensive U.S. network of regional communications. Previously, he was Manager of International Communications at Chrysler Corporation. He can be reached at 313-610-5600 or j.mccandless@comcast.net.

David Reuter has been named Nissan’s Vice President of Communications for North, South and Central America. Previously, he was head of Bentley’s communications for the Americas. . . . Rex Roy has added monthly technology stories for Automotive News to his roster of outlets that includes: The Detroit News, Popular Mechanics, Auto Blog, AOL Autos and Winding Road.com. . . . Shamit Choksey and Aaron Zeuli have joined American Suzuki Motor Corp.’s PR staff. Choksey comes from MotorWeek where he was a journalist and producer for the PBS television show. He is product publicity manager and can be reached at 714-996-7040 ext. 2255 or shamit.choksey@suz.com. Zeuli is a public relations specialist promoted from within the company. He can be reached at 714-996-7040 ext.2509 or arron.zeuli@suz.com . . . Charles Trieu has succeeded Carter Jung as editor of Import Tuner Magazine at Source Interlink Media. He can be reached at 949-705-3152 or charles.trieu@sorc.com.

Christian Wardlaw has left his position as Director of Content Development with J.D. Power and Associates to become Managing Editor for Salt Lake City-based Vehix, effective Jan. 1, 2011. He is responsible for development of “in-market” content for the decade-old site that specializes in dealer inventory of new and used cars and offers research and information tools, car reviews and news. . . . After 10 years with Motor Trend, eight of them as host of Motor Trend Radio, Bob Long is moving. He can now be reached at boblongradio@yahoo.com. His new show runs Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m to 10 a.m. on the Talkradio network. . . . Veteran auto reporter and editor Bill Moore has checked in after his 3,800 mile west-to-east trek in search of work. Now in Waterford, Connecticut, he remains available at last report and can be reached at hemmmingwa@sbcglobal.net.

John Stewart

John Stewart is the new editorial director for SEMA, replacing Matt Pierson who has taken a post out of the auto industry. A veteran editor and publisher of consumer and aftermarket magazines and marketing guru, Stewart is responsible for the monthly SEMA News Magazine, SEMA show publications and SEMA eNews and will serve as a voice for SEMA-member companies. He can be reached at: 909-978-6710 or johns@sema.org.