Skip to main content

Hitachi Europe appoints new CEO & president

Makoto Yamazawa has taken over as president and CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME). Having joined Hitachi straight out of university, Yamazawa has had a long and varied career within the firm and said, “My first position was as a domestic sales rep.” The role in Europe is a challenging one as HCME sells machines into 40 countries, while its equipment ranges from small rental products right up to the large mining trucks and shovels. Yamazawa has considerable experience of Hitachi’s mining e
April 13, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Yamazawa: new president and CEO for Europe
Makoto Yamazawa has taken over as president and CEO of 233 Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME). Having joined Hitachi straight out of university, Yamazawa has had a long and varied career within the firm and said, “My first position was as a domestic sales rep.”

The role in Europe is a challenging one as HCME sells machines into 40 countries, while its equipment ranges from small rental products right up to the large mining trucks and shovels. Yamazawa has considerable experience of Hitachi’s mining equipment range having headed up that business for 10 years. He said this is one sector he has already identified as having major potential and commented, “I think I could do something with our mining machines in Africa and the Middle East.”

However, he is also keen to build on the firm’s strong existing market share for excavators, as well as developing sales of the smaller rental machines. The firm’s financial figures are due to be released at the end of April and Yamazawa said, “I can’t disclose these now.”

During the year, Hitachi also has an intensive programme scheduled for key product launches, while the firm will build on its existing network and further develop its coverage. Yamazawa said, “In 2016 we will continue to roll out our Stage IV products and we will continue to expand our dealer network.” He added that additions to the network includes coverage for Serbia.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • bargain hunting, live onsite auction day in Donington, UK
    November 14, 2016
    It’s live onsite auction day in Donington, UK and it’s noisy. It’s also raining in early morning but that doesn’t put off the gathering crowd Buyers are milling around parked machinery. They kick tyres and slam doors. Some are behind the wheel, gingerly nudging vehicles frontwards and backwards or raising and lowering booms. Their partners stand a few metres away scrutinising the machine’s movements.
  • CECE 2018 conference Rome: the sector powers up for digitisation
    March 20, 2019
    Getting the human-machine interface for equipment automation right is a lot trickier than expected. David Arminas reports from the CECE conference in Rome For many contractors, digitisation is key for improving on-site operational efficiency. But it may be time to take stock of progress and examine what does and doesn’t work. That is not to say that the anchors should be thrown out to halt development. Far from it. In the past eight months, the CECE - Committee for European Construction Equipment – led
  • Feeling the burn, with Benninghoven
    October 16, 2024
    For industrial purposes such as asphalt production or mobile off-highway machines, hydrogen offers the option of a green fuel that helps cuts CO2 emissions - Mike Woof writes
  • Zoomlion’s advanced lifting and concrete pumping technology
    October 14, 2013
    Zoomlion is a world leader in concrete pumping and lifting technology, with an array of highly sophisticated solutions – Mike Woof reports. Compared with other global manufacturers of construction machines, Zoomlion is a comparatively new entrant to the market as the firm is just over 20 years old. However, Zoomlion is now recognised as a world leader in the lifting and concrete pumping markets, developing innovative machines that push the boundaries of technology. The company has grown both organically and