DENSO has announced executive leadership changes and appointments across its North American organization, as part of the company’s strategy to advance its long-term commitment to create new value for the future of mobility. These changes will enable DENSO to remain competitive, operate more efficiently and accelerate the management team’s decision-making process.

To achieve this during a time of unprecedented change in the automotive industry, DENSO says it is focused on strengthening global collaboration, overall North American functions and regional business units. The executive changes announced today will accelerate those focuses to help DENSO meet its goals to:

• Improve performance in areas like electrification and automated driving;
• Increase sustainable growth in existing business units;
• Promote advanced research and development throughout the region; and
• Develop new business opportunities in North America.

“We have big goals at DENSO. And we’ll achieve them because we have strong and innovative leaders who are working toward one shared vision to create a safe, secure and sustainable future,” said Kenichiro Ito, executive director for DENSO Corp. and CEO of DENSO’s North American headquarters. “Leadership rotations and changes strengthen the skills, knowledge and capabilities of our management team, as well as help unify and improve collaboration of our different DENSO locations, product groups and business/functional teams. We congratulate our leaders and wish them great success in their new roles.”

North America Executive Leadership Changes

To ensure the right people are in the appropriate positions during this critical time, the following changes are effective April 1:

Global Executive Officer Appointments

Shinichi Nakamizo will serve as executive officer of DENSO Corp. and North American Manufacturing. He will transition from his current role as president of DENSO’s Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico facilities.

Steve Milam will serve as executive officer of DENSO Corp. He also will serve as executive officer of Corporate Function Division, Powertrain Systems Business, and Electrification Systems Business of North America. He will transition from his current role as CEO of DENSO’s North America Thermal Systems Center (TAC) Business Group.

Jack Helmboldt will resign as executive director of DENSO Corp. and retire as president of DENSO’s Maryville, Tennessee, location. He will continue to serve as president emeritus and executive adviser to DENSO, providing guidance, knowledge and support to DENSO’s business operations and manufacturing leadership development. Helmboldt will continue to serve as a representative for DENSO in its External Affairs, government and community efforts.

Business Leaders

Andris Staltmanis will serve as lead of North America Thermal Systems Business group. He will transition from his current role as president of DENSO’s Battle Creek, Michigan, Thermal facility.

Marty Deschenes will serve as lead of North America Gasoline Systems Business and North America Exhaust Aftertreatment Systems Business groups. In addition, he will serve as president of DENSO’s Athens, Tennessee, facility. He will transition from his current role as vice president of the Electrification Systems Business Group and Start/Alternator Division at DENSO’s Maryville, Tennessee, location.

Shuji Kimoto will end his assignment as president of ASMO North Carolina and will return to global headquarters in Japan for a new assignment.

Masanori Iyama will serve as lead of North America Motors Business group and president of DENSO’s three Motor facilities located in Statesville and Greenville, North Carolina, and Battle Creek, Michigan location, previously known as ASMO. Effective April 1, ASMO will be integrated into DENSO’s North American operations. Iyama will transition from his current role as head of Motor Planning Division for DENSO Corp.

Jon Callies will serve as lead of North America Electric Components and North America Electrification Components Business groups. He will transition from his current role as director of Starter/Alternator Division at DENSO’s Maryville, Tennessee, operations.

Functional Leaders

In addition to his executive officer appointment, Steve Milam will serve as head of North America Human Resources department.

Yukio Asano will end his expatriate assignment as executive vice president of Corporate Function and return to DENSO Corp. global headquarters, for a new assignment.

Makoto Hasegawa will serve as group head of North America Corporate Division Finance Group, located at DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. He will transition from his current role as executive coordinator of Corporate Function.

Dave Grimmer will serve as division head of North America Production Innovation Division. He will transition from his current role as vice president of HVAC Operations at DENSO’s Battle Creek, Michigan, Thermal facility.

Satoshi “Scott” Inukai will end his expatriate assignment as senior vice president NAPIC at DENSO’s North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. He will return to global headquarters for a new assignment.

North American Affiliate Leaders 

In addition to his executive officer appointment, Shinichi Nakamizo will serve as president of DENSO’s Maryville, Tennessee, operations.

Takeshi Nagasaka will end his expatriate assignment as president of DENSO’s Athens, Tennessee, facility, and return to global headquarters for a new assignment.

Mitsuru Kato will serve as president of DENSO’s Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico facility. He will transition from his current role as head of Production Engineering Division at DENSO’s global global headquarters.

Kevin Carson will serve as president of DENSO’s Battle Creek, Michigan, Thermal facility. He will transition from his current role as vice president of Engine Cooling Module (ECM) Operations for DENSO’s TAC Business Group.

Global Personnel and Organizational Change 

DENSO Corp. also announced today changes to its executive structure and management team to operate more efficiently and accelerate business execution. Changes are effective April 1.

In addition, with the increasing deployment of vehicle electrification and automated driving technologies, DENSO is helping its customers in North America and around the world quickly meet the needs of sophisticated steering and brake control systems. Thus, DENSO announced changes to its global organizational structure and its current chassis control business section will be separated from the Electric Components Business Unit and become the Chassis Control Components Business Unit. This will allow for more dedicated focus, accelerated R&D and collaboration, according to the company