NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - American Honda's executive vice president, Thomas Elliot, will retire some time next year, the company said Tuesday.

Elliott, 62, will be replaced by John Mendel, who was most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mazda North American Operations. While assuming the role held by Elliot, Mendel will not take on the title. Instead, Mendel's new title will be senior vice president in charge of marketing, advertising and product planning.

Elliot started his career at Honda in 1970 as a sales assistant. After working in various sales positions, he was appointed vice president, automobile operations, in 1983. He became executive vice president in 1988 and was named to the American Honda board of directors.,

Mendel joined Mazda in 2002. He began his career with Ford U.S. operations in 1976 and held several sales and marketing positions in Lincoln Mercury and Ford Customer Service. Before joining Mazda, he was director of marketing with Ford of Britain from 1999 to 2002. Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda.