Kubota Corporation has appointed Masato Yoshikawa as the new President of Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC), based in Torrance, Calif. Yoshikawa is a 32-year Kubota veteran and most recently held the position of General Manager, Corporate Planning & Control Department for Kubota Corporation, headquartered in Osaka, Japan.
During his tenure with Kubota, Yoshikawa has spent nearly 13 years in U.S.-based assignments, most recently as President, Kubota Credit Corporation, from 2003-2007. In that capacity, Yoshikawa played a significant role in developing the retail credit segment of KTC’s business, which has greatly influenced the company’s growth in recent years.
“Kubota Tractor Corporation has experienced tremendous growth over the last few decades and I am proud to be a part of its history,” explains Yoshikawa. He follows former KTC President, Yuichi (Ken) Kitao, who served as president from January 2011 to October 2013, prior to his recent appointment as General Manager, Farm and Utility Machinery Division for Kubota Corporation.
Acknowledging KTC’s successive record years under Kitao’s leadership, Yoshikawa adds, “KTC’s business growth has great momentum due to a forward-looking and tactical company vision, combined with continuous innovation and expansion of Kubota product offerings. Our recent introduction of Kubota Hay Tools and Spreaders, for example, will both enable our dealers to expand their individual businesses, and also provide our valued customers with comprehensive, trusted Kubota product solutions, all in one place.”
Noting Kubota’s recent expansion of its utility vehicle and zero turn mower business with the introduction of its RTV X-Series and Z700-Series last month, and highlighting the company’s renewed focus on its construction equipment business, Yoshikawa concludes, “We are committed to continuously innovating our products and processes to meet our customers’ needs, and I am confident that in doing so, we will continue to strengthen Kubota’s brand and position in the U.S. marketplace.”
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Torrance, Calif., is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-branded equipment, including a complete line of tractors up to 118 PTO hp, performance-matched implements, compact and utility-class construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, contact Kubota Tractor Corporation at 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or visit www.kubota.com.