Yamaha India rejigs top deck, Motofumi Shitara appointed new MD

Yamaha Motor Company is all set to rejig its top leadership, across senior positions, globally including its Indian operations from January 2018.

A recent Board of Directors meeting in Japan has approved of a few personnel changes in the top management with effect from January 1, 2018 globally. This includes the transfer of Hiroaki Fujita, managing director, Yamaha Motor India and Masaki Asano, managing director, Yamaha Motor India Sales, back to Japan with them taking up new global duties within Yamaha.

Motofumi Shitara, who is currently the executive officer and deputy chief general manager of corporate planning and finance centre within Yamaha Motor Company in Japan, will take up the leadership role within the company’s India operations. Appointed chairman of the Yamaha Motor India Group of Companies, he will additionally be MD, Yamaha Motor India, and MD, Yamaha Motor India Sales with effect from January 1, 2018.

Fujita’s new position will be senior executive officer and chief general manager of Advanced Technology Center (ATC), and senior general manager of New Venture Business Development section, ATC. He will also take up the role of chief general manager of Solution Business Operations.

Meanwhile, Asano, who was appointed as deputy MD for Yamaha Motor India Sales in January 2013, is completing his five-year term in his office. He has credited to have steered Yamaha’s scooter business along with several new product launches ranging from the twin-cylinder, 321cc YZF-R3 to 110cc mass commuter motorcycle Saluto RX.