CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP FOR HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (UK) LTD

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) has announced that there will be a change in leadership as of 1 April 2018 at its subsidiary, Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) Ltd (HCMUK), located in Newcastle upon Tyne. David Roberts has been appointed as the new CEO of HCMUK, due to the retirement of the incumbent, John Jones, who has worked 28 years with Hitachi Construction Machinery in the UK. Mr Jones will act in an advisory capacity at HCMUK to support his successor.

“John Jones’s role as CEO of HCMUK – and the former UK Hitachi dealer HM Plant – has been instrumental in expanding Hitachi’s share of this competitive market, and he is leaving the company in a strong position for the future,” says Makoto Yamazawa, HCME’s President and CEO. “We are very grateful for John’s commitment to Hitachi and the success achieved in the UK market over the years, and would like to thank him most sincerely for his unwavering loyalty and dedication.”

Mr Roberts comes to HCMUK with more than 25 years’ experience in the construction and agriculture markets, his previous role being the Managing Director of Kubota (UK) Ltd. He qualified as an agricultural engineer, and went on to build a strong commercial track record in sales and marketing within the UK construction and agricultural equipment sector.

After holding various senior management positions within Kubota (UK) Ltd over a 20-year period, Mr Roberts moved to Farol Ltd – a large multi-depot John Deere dealer – as Operations Director. He returned to Kubota (UK) Ltd in 2012, and the following year became one of its first non-Japanese managing directors.

Having worked at all levels of the industry, for a manufacturer and retail dealer, Mr Roberts believes that he can make a real contribution to HCMUK: “I’m really excited to be joining Hitachi. My new role will not only allow me to expand on my own experience, but also build on the incredible success that John and the experienced HCMUK team have enjoyed in the past.”

Mr Jones adds: “David’s vast experience in the construction industry – and working for a Japanese organisation – will be a great asset to HCMUK. I am confident that he will continue to drive the growth of Hitachi’s business in the UK, and wish him and the company every future success.”