Hitachi Europe appoints Takaharu Ikeda as new president

Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe’s new President, Takaharu Ikeda

Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME) has announced Takaharu Ikeda as its new President and Chairman of the Management Board.

Ikeda is due to start his new role on 1st April. He will take over from outgoing president Makoto Yamazawa, who is stepping down after reaching the end of his five-year tenure in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

He takes on the role after serving as the vice president and executive officer of the Life Cycle Support Group at Hitachi Construction Machinery in Japan for the past three years.

Ikeda said, “Europe is the most advanced and competitive market in the world. Customers’ requirements are broad and changing continuously, and should be responded to without delay.

“Decarbonisation, electrification, ICT machines, multi-purpose attachments and 24/7 monitoring are good examples. HCME’s authorised dealers are extremely important partners and they are facing customers every day to exceed their expectations. Listening to the voices of the customer and dealer is always the first step to provide a range of reliable solutions.”

Ikeda’s appointment comes after a long career with the construction equipment manufacturer.

He joined the OEM’s Sales Administration department in 1982 after graduating from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, with an Economics degree. After a decade he was transferred to Deere and Company in the US for two years and went on to become Hitachi’s general manager of the Sales Administration department of the Kansai Regional office, Japan.

Later in his career he became President of Hitachi’s Marketing division before taking up the position of Executive Officer of Hitachi Construction Machinery and Managing Director of Hitachi Construction Machinery Shanghai in China in 2015.

Ikeda added that, “Hitachi Construction Machinery has given me the opportunity to work in sales, service, rental, computer systems and supply chain management. Added to my invaluable experience of working in the USA and China, I am looking forward to becoming immersed in HCME’s systems, customs and culture, and meeting the challenges that lie ahead.

“Together with HCME’s authorised dealer network and my new colleagues, I will take on this mantle and build on the foundations required for the company to become the number one solution provider. We will continue to differentiate our product through the launch of the new -7 range and service offerings with the expansion of the value chain business.

“These will help us to enhance our strength and improve profitability, despite the unpredictable nature of the global marketplace.”