News Releases

Sep 27, 2000 08:48 AM

Shimayama named deputy GM, Hitachi, Ltd. Sales Management Division

Koshimizu appointed president, Hitachi America, Ltd.

Ikeda assumes responsibility for Hitachi Data Systems Solutions

BRISBANE, Calif., September 27, 2000 - Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT) today announced that it has appointed Tomoharu Shimayama deputy general manager of its Tokyo-based Sales Management Division. Yoshihiro Koshimizu succeeds him as president of Hitachi America, Ltd. and Toshiakira Ikeda assumes additional responsibility for Hitachi Data Systems Solutions. The appointments are effective at the end of October.

Mr. Shimayama, 58, has served as president and CEO of Hitachi America, Ltd. since February 1998. Mr. Koshimizu, 56, most recently was chairman of Hitachi Data Systems Solutions, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., since April 2000 and chairman of Hitachi Data Systems from 1997 to April 2000. Mr. Ikeda, 59, is currently president of Hitachi Computer Products (America), Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., a position to which he was named in April 1999 and will retain.

In making the announcement, Yoshiro Kuwata, executive vice president and director of Hitachi, Ltd., said, "These appointments reflect the ongoing evolution of the Hitachi organization to better address the growing opportunities we see around the world for our technology and our desire to leverage the strengths across our many businesses. Mr. Shimayama has served Hitachi America well during the past several years, having joined the company during very challenging times for both Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi America. As part of the "i.eHitachi Plan" we have created a new position at headquarters for an executive to focus on building cross synergies among the Hitachi Group from a sales and marketing perspective. Mr. Shimayama's long career in sales management with Hitachi and, in particular, his recent experience with the Hitachi America Group make him well suited for this new role. Mr. Koshimizu and Mr. Ikeda have each played instrumental roles in the evolution of Hitachi's computer and software businesses. Their respective experiences will bring added value to further enhancing Hitachi's growth in the North America market."

Mr. Shimayama joined Hitachi in 1964 and has considerable international experience in marketing and sales of power generation and industrial equipment. Prior to joining Hitachi America, he served as general manager of the Power Group in Tokyo, Japan, a position to which he was appointed in June 1997. Before that he was general manager of the International Business Planning & Development Group from 1995 to 1997. He is an economics graduate of Wakayama University, Wakayama, Prefecture.

Mr. Koshimizu joined Hitachi in 1968 and spent much of his career in computer export management positions. Before joining Hitachi Data Systems in 1997, he was general manager of the Information Systems International Operations Division. He earlier served at Hitachi Data Systems from 1989, when the unit was acquired from National Semiconductor, until 1992. Prior to that he served in the Computer Export Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. from 1984 to 1988. He is an economics graduate of Yokahama National University, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Mr. Ikeda joined Hitachi in 1968 and was primarily involved in the company's software operations in engineering, marketing and planning management roles. Prior to being names president of Hitachi Computer Products (America) in April 1999, he was general manager of the Planning Department of the Hitachi Information Systems Division since 1995. Before that, he was general manager of the Information Systems Division, Product Marketing Division since 1988. He holds both bachelors and masters degrees in instrumentation from Kobe University.

Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., is a supplier of systems and solutions, including disk arrays through a manufacturing facility in Norman, Oklahoma, enterprise application integration software based in Boston, Mass. and networking products such as gigabit routers in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information on Hitachi Computer Products (America), Inc., please visit http://www.hitachiomd.com/.

Hitachi Data Systems Solutions, Santa Clara, Calif., provides business consulting, application-layer services, and systems integration services. It was spun off from Hitachi Data Systems in May 2000.

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 1999 (ended March 31, 2000) consolidated sales of 8,001 billion yen ($75.5 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://www.hitachi.co.jp.

*At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar.