Hitachi appoints Ichiro Iino as Chief Executive for Asia Pacific

New Delhi: Japanese firm Hitachi has promoted of Ichiro Iino as Chief Executive for Asia Pacific from Managing Director of Hitachi India.

Iino will be responsible to grow Hitachi's 'Social Innovation Business' in ASEAN, India, Korea and Oceania.

Hitachi India has also announced appointment of Kojin Nakakita as Managing Director who will be responsible to grow 'Social Innovation Business' in India. Currently, Nakakita is the Deputy Managing Director of Hitachi India.

Iino will succeed Kiyoaki Iigaya, who is returning to Japan to assume the post of President of Hitachi Document Solutions. He will also take over the role as new Chairman of Hitachi Asia Ltd and Hitachi India Pvt Ltd from Iigaya.

Nakakita will succeed Ichiro Iino, who will be assigned Chief Executive for Asia Pacific as well as Chairman of Hitachi Asia Ltd and Hitachi India Pvt Ltd.

Both appointments will be effective April 1, 2015.

Under the 2015 Mid-term Management Plan, Hitachi aims to achieve an overseas sales ratio of more than 50%, while expanding business in the global market for its Social Innovation Business.

Iino most recently served as Managing Director of Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd. and has been proactively expanding business opportunities in India for the past four years as the first Managing Director.

'Previously, Oceania and Korea are not under the purview of any region's Chief Executive. The fact that they are now under my responsibility is testament of the growing importance of the APAC region to Hitachi, and proof of how the company is accelerating its globalization and transformation into a global major player. I will work closely with the Managing Directors in ASEAN, India, Korea and Oceania to customize business expansion plans for each region,' said Iino.

Iino will be responsible for business development in four key areas: healthcare solutions, collaborative solutions with developers and conglomerates, and home appliance business targeting the B2B market, and financial solutions.

'India is a promising big market and a strategic region for Hitachi. Now with the new government unveiling ambitious plans for the country's growth, there are increasing business opportunities in which Hitachi can further contribute to the economy and betterment of society such as in the areas of Water, Oil & Gas, Railway, Healthcare, and Payment service & IT solutions. These are also key business sectors that Hitachi is expanding in India,' Nakakita said 

In his new role, Nakakita will lead Hitachi India to become an independent, self-reliant entity as the Hitachi Group moves towards 'autonomous decentralized global management'.