Denso has announced executive leadership changes and appointments across its North America organization. The company says the changes will enable Denso to remain competitive, operate more efficiently and accelerate the management team’s decision-making process.
To achieve this during a time of unprecedented change in the automotive industry, Denso is focused on strengthening global collaboration, overall North America functions and regional business units. The executive changes announced today will accelerate those focuses to help Denso meet its goals to improve performance in areas like electrification and automated driving, increase sustainable growth in existing business units, promote advanced research and development throughout the region and develop new business opportunities in North America, Denso says.
“We have big goals at Denso. And we’ll achieve them because we have strong and innovative leaders who are working toward one shared vision to create a safe, secure and sustainable future,” says Kenichiro Ito, executive director, Denso Corporation, and CEO, Denso North American Headquarters. “Leadership rotations and changes strengthen the skills, knowledge and capabilities of our management team as well as help unify and improve collaboration of our different Denso locations, product groups and business/functional teams.”
The following changes are effective April 1, 2019:
Shinichi Nakamizo will serve as executive officer of Denso Corporation and North American Manufacturing. Nakamizo also will serve as president of Denso’s Maryville, Tenn., operations.
Steve Milam will serve as executive officer of Denso Corporation. He also will serve as executive officer of the Corporate Function Division, Powertrain Systems Business, and the Electrification Systems Business of North America. In addition, Milam will serve as head of the North America Human Resources department.
Jack Helmboldt will resign as executive director of Denso Corporation and retire as president of Denso’s Maryville, Tenn. location. He will continue to serve as president emeritus and executive advisor to Denso, providing guidance, knowledge and support to Denso’s business operations and manufacturing leadership development. Helmboldt will continue to serve as a representative for Denso in its external affairs, government, and community efforts.
Andris Staltmanis will serve as lead of the North America Thermal Systems Business group.
Marty Deschenes will serve as lead of the North America Gasoline Systems Business and North America Exhaust Aftertreatment Systems Business groups. He also will serve as president of Denso’s Athens, Tenn., facility.
Shuji Kimoto will end his assignment as president of ASMO North Carolina and will return to global headquarters in Japan for a new assignment.
Masanori Iyama will serve as lead of the North America Motors Business group and president of Denso’s three motor facilities located in Statesville and Greenville, N.C., and Battle Creek, Mich., previously known as ASMO. Effective April 1, 2019, ASMO will be integrated into Denso’s North American operations.
Jon Callies will serve as lead of the North America Electric Components and North America Electrification Components Business groups.
Yukio Asano will end his expatriate assignment as executive vice president of Corporate Function and return to Denso Corporation global headquarters for a new assignment.
Makoto Hasegawa will serve as group head of the North America Corporate Division Finance Group, located at Denso’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Mich.
Dave Grimmer will serve as division head of the North America Production Innovation Division.
Satoshi “Scott” Inukai will end his expatriate assignment as senior vice president, NAPIC, at Denso’s North American headquarters and return to global headquarters for a new assignment.
Takeshi Nagasaka will end his expatriate assignment as president of Denso’s Athens, Tenn., facility, and return to global headquarters for a new assignment.
Mitsuru Kato will serve as president of Denso’s Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, facility.
Kevin Carson will serve as president of Denso’s Battle Creek, Mich., Thermal facility.
With the increasing deployment of vehicle electrification and automated driving technologies, Denso says it is helping its customers meet the needs of sophisticated steering and brake control systems. Thus, Denso announced changes to its global organizational structure and its current chassis control business section will be separated from the Electric Components Business Unit and become the Chassis Control Components Business Unit.
