Keiichi Katsuta (left) and Hitoshi Kagawa (right)
Sharp Australia has named Hitoshi Kagawa as its incoming managing director. Kagawa will take on the role and responsibilities from 1 August, delivering leadership and vision to the team and organisation.
As managing director, Kagawa will implement the company’s long-term strategic direction and manage the company’s team.
Kagawa will also oversee the direction of the company, off the back of the strategic alliance, following an investment by Foxconn in the Sharp brand.
In February last year, Sharp approved an offer from Hon Hai Precision Industry and related companies to acquire over 66 per cent of the company’s voting stock, making the Taiwanese contract manufacturer the new parent of the venerable Japanese firm.
The deal was said to give Foxconn access to a “captive market” for its assembly services, but also to a broad range of electronic components and consumer devices that could allow it to take a larger share of the value added between design and delivery.
Kagawa currently serves as the president of Sharp in Brazil and will vacate that post to relocate to the company’s office in Australia. He will be based in Sharp’s new North Ryde offices in Sydney.
“I am excited to be joining the Australian team and lead the local operations. Together we will set the benchmark that Sharp is the preferred brand as we expand offerings in the consumer and business solutions markets,” he said.
The current managing director of Sharp Australia, Keiichi Katsuta, will be transferred back to Sharp’s head office in Japan, where he will work alongside the Business Solutions Group in the Asian marketing department.
Katsuta aims to draw on his successes in Australia and look to further deliver his expertise across Asia, including Oceania and Middle Eastern countries for the company’s document, information display panel, interactive whiteboard and ECR/POS categories.
“I would like to thank Keiichi Katsuta for his instrumental work over the past three years as he leaves behind a solid foundation allowing me to bring the company towards a growth trajectory,” Kagawa added.
