PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Aisin World Corp. of America (AWA), one of the world’s leading Tier One automotive components suppliers, has named Masayasu "Mike" Saito as its new president.

As president of both AWA and Aisin Holdings of America (AHA), Saito returns to the United States from Japan to take the helm of the new alliance (AWA and AHA were integrated in January, 2010). Saito began his career more than 30 years ago with Aisin Chemical. Since 2007, he has been managing officer of Aisin’s Anjo plant and Life & Energy sales division. Previously, he had assignments in the United States as part of Aisin research and development teams in California and Minnesota.

Saito replaces Kenji Tsujimura, who returns to Japan as senior managing director of Aisin Light Metals.

As president, Saito is responsible for all aspects of AWA, including sales and sales-related functions for original equipment and aftermarket products. He also will oversee AWA offices in Cincinnati and Torrance, Calif., as well as logistics operations in Detroit; Laredo, Texas; and Los Angeles. Saito earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Nagoya University in Japan.

The company also named several new North American officers:

Takashi Araki, executive vice president
Araki is responsible for North American and European Customer Sales and has been with Aisin since 1985. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tokyo University of Science in Japan. Previously serving as AWA treasurer and secretary, Araki has been in the United States for more than 10 years.

Tsukasa Ito, executive vice president
Ito is the first company executive to fill the new position of executive vice president, Manufacturing Support Group. Previously, Ito served as president of Aisin Automotive Castings in London, Ky. He has been in the United States since 2008 and was formerly manager of Aisin’s Nishio plant in Japan. He has been with Aisin since 1982. Ito earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yamanashi University in Japan.

John Koenig, executive vice president
Koenig returns to AWA as executive vice president responsible for Aftermarket Sales, Life & Energy, and External Affairs. Koenig will work from AWA offices in both Plymouth, Mich., and Torrance, Calif. A former Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. executive, Koenig originally joined AWA as a marketing-planning consultant in 2002. In 2006, he was named vice president of sales and marketing, a position he held until 2008, when he was asked to join Mitsubishi Motors NA as executive vice president. Koenig earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Western Michigan University, and an MBA in management from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Atsushi Onishi, treasurer
Onishi is concurrently serving as treasurer of both AWA and AHA. Formerly a financial manager for Aisin Seiki in Japan, he joined the company in 1993 and has been in the United States since 2007. Onishi earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA at Nagoya University in Japan.

Shingo Sanjo, executive vice president
In his new position as executive vice president, Japan & Asian Customer Sales, Sanjo is responsible for maintaining AWA’s overall sales relationships with Asian automakers. Sanjo comes to AWA from Aisin Seiki in Japan, where he was general manager, Toyota Sales Group. He has been with Aisin since 1983. Sanjo earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Chuo University in Japan. He replaces Masato Suzuki, who returns to Aisin Seiki in Japan.

Masanori Saso, executive vice president, Administration
Saso is concurrently serving as executive vice president of both AWA and AHA. Formerly a human resources manager at Aisin Seiki in Japan, Saso has been in the U.S. since 2004. He earned a bachelor’s degree in educational science from Tohoku University in Japan and joined Aisin Seiki in 1986.

Kazuya Tsukamoto, executive vice president; Secretary, Corporate Planning & Finance
Tsukamoto is concurrently serving as executive vice president of both AWA and AHA. Formerly treasurer of Aisin Brake & Chassis Inc. in Terre Haute, Ind., Tsukamoto has been with Aisin since 1986 and in the United States since 2005. Tsukamoto graduated from Doshisha University in Japan with a degree in commercial science.

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