Tom Matano has had an illustrious career in the automotive industry, spanning over three decades. He studied at prestigious institutions such as the Academy of Art University, Seikei University, and Artcenter College of Design. Matano's career saw him work at Mazda Motor Corporation in Japan and North America, where he served in different capacities such as Executive Designer, Executive Vice President, General Manager, among others. In his last roles, he was the VP of Design at Next Autoworks and the Executive Director of the School of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University. Matano is a member of the Western Automotive Journalists, emphasizing his passion for cars and design.