DENSO Announces North American Executive Management Changes

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Jun 19, 2014, 09:00 ET

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of the expansion and growth in the North American region, DENSO announced today the following executive management changes. Included within these changes, DENSO International America, Inc. (DIAM) celebrates Hikaru "Howard" Sugi as he retires as chief executive officer (CEO) of DIAM and chairman of DENSO's North American Board of Directors.

At DENSO, it begins with people. (PRNewsFoto/Denso International) (PRNewsFoto/Denso International)

Hikaru "Howard" Sugi has helped strengthen the company's North American business structure over the past three years. He will now serve as North American chairman emeritus to support with the transition in leadership.

Sadahiro "Sam" Usui has been appointed chairman of DENSO's North American Board of Directors and CEO of DIAM. Located in Southfield, Michigan, Usui will oversee all North American group companies and affiliates. Usui will continue to serve as executive director of DENSO Corporation.

Kazumasa "Kaz" Kimura will now serve as president of DIAM, where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of business related to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) customers for DENSO in the Americas. He will also continue to serve as chief operating officer of DIAM and executive director of DENSO Corporation.

Doug Patton has been promoted to executive vice president of DIAM's Engineering Division. As executive vice president and chief technical officer, he will oversee operation of Development Facilities, Testing and Technical Services, Engineering Administration and the company's Product Engineering. He previously served as senior vice president. In addition, he has been appointed to senior director of DENSO Corporation, effective July 1, 2014.

Jack Helmbolt, president and CEO of DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, has been appointed to executive director of DENSO Corporation. He previously served as senior director. In addition to overseeing operations for DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, he is responsible for developing overall strategy and direction of North American Information and Safety business and assisting with DENSO's manufacturing strategy development.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 36 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 130,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, totaled US$38.1 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.4 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.globaldenso.com, or visit our media website at www.densomediacenter.com.

Currently, in North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 33 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas, Alabama and Pennsylvania. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaling US$7.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.