Haruyuki "Harry" Yoshida will become the new president and CEO of Grapevine-based Kubota Tractor Corp. and Kubota North America, effective Jan. 1.
Yoshida is a 37-year Kubota veteran who arrives from the company's headquarters in Osaka, Japan, where he served as managing executive officer and general manager of farm and industrial machinery domain, strategy and operations. He had previously spent time in the U.S. in various roles.
He replaces Masato Yoshikawa, who is being promoted to director and senior managing executive officer, general manager of planning and control headquarters and general manager of global IT management in Osaka.
Yoshikawa led the company through considerable growth and technological advancements during his five-year tenure as president and CEO. That included overseeing the company's North American headquarters move from Torrance, Calif., to Grapevine, where it opened a $50 million, two-building campus in 2017. It employs about 300 people at the complex off State Highway 121.
Kubota's move was part of an influx of Japanese-owned companies that relocated from California to Dallas-Fort Worth following Toyota's decision in 2014 to bring its North American headquarters to Plano. One of the world's largest manufactures of tractors, construction equipment and other machinery products, Kubota expanded into the U.S. in 1972 with a small office in Southern California.
The company, which has worldwide revenue of more than $15 billion, wanted a more central location to serve its U.S. dealers and manufacturing and distribution facilities in Kansas and Georgia.
"I'm eager and proud to continue the tremendous momentum Kubota has experienced over the last several years under Mr. Yoshikawa's leadership, and look forward to leading the company through the next phase of development and growth in the U.S.," Yoshida said in a statement. "I am confident we will continue to further strengthen the Kubota brand in the U.S. marketplace and throughout North America."
In June, Kubota bought 318 acres in Ponder in Denton County to test and showcase farming equipment at what it's planning to call Kubota Ranch.
