Yanmar America Announces Leadership and Management Changes

Move to increased globalization and expansion necessitates restructuring of key leadership positions.

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Increased business complexity, combined with the need to increase support of globalization and expansion of Yanmar Holdings Ltd., has caused Yanmar America to evaluate and restructure some of its key leadership positions effective June 1, 2014.

Yanmar America is pleased to announce that Ted Bregar will relinquish his duties as president of Yanmar America and assume the responsibilities as Chairman and Senior Executive Advisor to Yanmar America. Bregar will report to Mr. Tetsuya Yamamoto and the Yanmar America Board of Directors.

In this role, Bregar will be responsible for finding new business opportunities, serve in an advisory role for the new president and take on other duties as requested by the Board of Directors. He will not be participating in the day to day management or activities of the company.

 “Yanmar America has made much progress in the past three years in charting a new direction for our businesses in the Americas,” Bregar stated. “Now, it is time to begin a new chapter where this strategic direction is fortified and supported by operational excellence. At the same time, we will continue to support Yanmar Holdings’ drive for globalization and creating new business opportunities. I will be focused exclusively on expansion of Yanmar’s business.”

Yanmar America name Tim Fernandez to replace Bregar as president. Fernandez will report to Mr. Yamamoto and the Board of Directors.

In his new role, Fernandez will be focused exclusively on achieving operational excellence in the company’s main lines of business in order to achieve the “Premium Brand” value proposition for its dealers, distributors and end users.

Fernandez joined Yanmar America 3 1/2 years ago after a 20-year career with Yamaha Motor Corporation. While at Yanmar, he has led the Industrial Engine, Energy Systems and Marine Engines Business Units. Most recently, Fernandez assumed Bregar’s duties for several months during a medical absence last year. Fernandez has over 26 years of diverse and extensive experience with multi-national retail dealer and OEM distribution channels.

As noted by Bregar, “Tim is an innovative and persuasive leader with a strong vision, work ethic and servant-leadership style which have helped him to develop high performing teams. [He] is well suited to lead Yanmar America and achieve new levels of operational excellence.”

In addition, Robert Abend has been appointed Vice Chairman and Executive Advisor. In his new role, Abend will report to Bregar and the Board of Directors.

In his new role, Abend will work with Bregar to focus on business development. Abend will also relinquish his day to day operating responsibilities in order to concentrate his efforts on his new responsibilities.

According to Bregar, “With his extensive commercial and technical background, industry insight and 30 years of experience as a Yanmar employee, Rob is the perfect fit for helping to lead efforts to expand Yanmar’s businesses and global reach.”

Finally, Junichiro “Jimmy” Onishi has been promoted to vice president of Yanmar America, and will report to Fernandez.

Onishi has a distinguished background in the Yanmar organization in Japan, where he has been instrumental in building marketing structure and processes.

Fernandez indicated that, “Mr. Onishi has added considerable value to the Yanmar America organization since his arrival in 2012. He is particularly well suited to help [the company] build operational excellence and advance its Premium Brand value proposition. I look forward to working closely with him on a daily basis.”

These moves will allow Yanmar America to become focused exclusively on sales, marketing and customer support of current products and services and, in parallel, will allow Yanmar Holdings to develop future businesses of a regional and global nature.

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