The Engines Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. named Atsuhiro Yoshimatsu as executive vice president of the general purpose engine division and general manager of research & development. The appointment is effective immediately.
He replaces Eisaku Mori, who held a similar position, and returned to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. as general manager of the general purpose engine division.
“I’m pleased to be able to work with an experienced team that easily integrates functions so that company objectives are quickly met, benefiting us, our OEMs, distributors and dealers and Kawasaki end users,” Yoshimatsu said.
Yoshimatsu, who has been with Kawasaki companies for nearly 35 years, brings a broad scope of experience to his new position in Grand Rapids, Mich. Originally assigned as an engineer for the brand’s motorcycle group — both for consumer product application and competitive racing — he transitioned to the general purpose engine division where he initially worked as an engineer developing Kawasaki’s FC180V engine.
He came to the U.S. to establish the R&D center at Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. in Maryville, Mo., in the mid-1990s before returning to Japan to work on the development of several new additions to the Kawasaki engine lineup.
Upon returning again to the U.S., he ultimately became R&D director at the Maryville facility. Following numerous initiatives that helped assure Kawasaki brand growth here, he took over as R&D senior manager at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. general purpose engine division. This current posting back in the U.S. provides Yoshimatsu with oversight of all facets of the engines division operations.
The Davey Tree Expert Co. promoted Mark Svozil to vice president and general manager, commercial landscape services (CLS).
Svozil started with Davey in 1992 as a landscape foreman in the west Cleveland Residential/Commercial (R/C) office. In 1995, he was promoted to landscape coordinator and then landscape management coordinator in 2000. Later that year, he was promoted to account manager, Cleveland CLS territory. The following year, he was named branch manager of the territory and in 2006 was promoted to operations manager, Midwest region, CLS. In 2013, he was promoted to vice president, Midwest region and in 2016, was promoted to senior vice president, CLS.
Svozil is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and a National Association of Landscape Professionals Certified Manager. He is a 1995 graduate of the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences (DITS), Davey’s flagship training program in biological sciences, safety, tree and plant care and management techniques.
Svozil is a past member of the Davey President’s Council, whose members serve a three-year term on various committees to brainstorm and research new ideas related to the company’s operations. He is a recipient of a Davey Outstanding Manager Award and the Best of Davey Leadership Award.
Davey also promoted Mike Mittiga to vice president and general manager, Eastern Utility services.
Mittiga will oversee operations for all aspects of Eastern Utility. He will report to Brent Repenning, executive vice president, U.S. Utility and Davey Resource Group.
Mittiga started with Davey in 2006 as a management trainee and was positioned as a groundman/trimmer on the Tampa Electric account. He was quickly promoted to supervisor on the Orlando Utilities Commission account the same year. He earned several more promotions to account manager in 2008, senior account manager in 2012, area manager in 2013 and operations manager in 2015. In 2016, he assumed the role of vice president, upper Atlantic region. In 2018, he was promoted to vice president of operations, Atlantic Region.
Mittiga is an ISA Certified Arborist and an ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kent State University. He’s a past member of the Davey President’s Council. He is a 2009 graduate of the DITS.
In other Davey news, the company appointed Charles D. Stapleton to its board of directors.
Stapleton is the former COO and Executive vice president of Motorists Insurance Group, now, Encova Insurance, a regional provider of auto, home, business and life insurance. Stapleton retired in 2018.
Davey’s President and CEO Pat Covey said that Stapleton’s past experience will serve him well on Davey’s board.
“Charlie has a great understanding of the operational aspect of running a company, and deep experience in the mergers and acquisitions arena,” Covey said. “He also has a true appreciation of the importance of valuing employees, and as an employee-owned company, I think his perspective will fit our culture well.”
Stapleton is a graduate of Bluffton University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in education. He is board member of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company and serves on Encova’s affiliate boards. Stapleton previously served as a board member of Bluffton University and was President of the Central Ohio Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and an Associate in Risk Management and received the 2015 Professional Achievement Award from Bluffton University and the 2008 Presidential Citation from the Professional Insurance Agents Association.
Allu Group, based in East Brunswick, N.J., appointed Edison Rocha as its new vice president of distribution and marketing for the U.S. and Canada.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to have Edison join our team in North America” said Edgar J. Chavez, president North America of Allu Group. “With his years of experience and knowledge not only in sales of heavy equipment, but also in managing equipment distributor channels, we are well positioned to strengthen our position in North America.”
Rocha is responsible for increasing development of distribution channels, as well as marketing throughout North America. Rocha brings almost 25 years of experience in construction equipment sales, dealer development and marketing to this position, including 11 years with Sandvik Mining & Construction, where he held positions in aftermarket and sales management in South America and USA, most recently as a division sales manager for the United States.
Prior to that, Rocha worked in sales and sales management for Linck Machines and Servcorp International. He holds bachelor’s degrees from Ponta Grossa State University and University of Social Studies in administration and marketing, respectively, as well as MBA degrees from Kennedy Western University and Tulane University. He is proficient in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
