Hitachi Appoints Jack Domme as Chief Executive for the Americas
Local Leadership, Market-Driven Management and Acceleration of Social Innovation Growth Are Core to New Global Management Strategy
Tarrytown, NY, February 5, 2015 – Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced the appointment of Mr. Jack Domme as Chief Executive for the Americas, effective April 1, 2015. He will be also promoted to Executive Officer of Hitachi, Ltd. from Corporate Officer. Mr. Domme’s appointment is significant for Hitachi as it is part of a new global management strategy Hitachi is calling “autonomous decentralized global management,” which means Hitachi is placing more direct control for key businesses in the hands of talented local leaders to accelerate global growth by enabling faster decision-making based on market and customer needs. Hitachi has elected to deploy this new management strategy globally in order to grow its Social Innovation Business. At the end of March 2015, Mr. Takashi Hatchoji will retire as Chairman of the Board of Hitachi America, Ltd. and Group Chairman for the Americas.
Mr. Domme is currently CEO of Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), a position he has held since 2008, and will continue to hold going forward to ensure HDS continues its strong global performance. He has led the successful transformation of HDS from a storage provider into a software and solutions company, successfully restructuring and streamlining the company’s operations, building a high performance culture that has made the company the global industry leader it is today, while establishing a high performance culture built upon trust, transparency and accountability.
In his new role, Mr. Domme will function as a representative of the Hitachi Group in interactions with companies and customers in the Americas. In addition to creating regional growth strategies, promoting localization, and effectively utilizing management resources, Mr. Domme will focus on growing the Hitachi Social Innovation business as well as allocating investments in new strategic growth areas. Mr. Domme has more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry, and he has worked for Hitachi since 2003.
Mr. Domme said, “I am honored by this appointment, and I look forward to working closely with the Hitachi companies in the Americas to develop and implement a cohesive strategy that will drive sustainable growth in this important market. Hitachi is uniquely positioned to be a leading player not just in the Americas, but globally with Social Innovation as a strong differentiator for the company. By harnessing the expertise across the Hitachi companies to deliver social innovation solutions – software, services, deep industry expertise, and the consulting needed to launch complex solutions, we can quickly accelerate our global growth. Ultimately our goal is to deliver business and social outcomes to help our customers win, while making the world healthier, safer, and more secure.”
In addition to this appointment and continuing as CEO for HDS, Mr. Domme will also serve as Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi, Ltd., as well as Chairman of the Board and CEO, Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Systems Global Holdings Corporation, Chairman of the Board, Hitachi Consulting Corporation, and Chairman of the Board of Hitachi America, Ltd. These changes are effective April 1, 2015.
Hitachi America, Ltd. is also announcing the following executive changes. At the end of March 2015, Mr. Takashi Hatchoji will retire as Chairman of the Board of Hitachi America, Ltd. and Group Chairman for the Americas. Hitachi will not appoint anyone to serve as Group Chairman for the Americas upon Mr. Hatchoji’s retirement. Mr. Hatchoji will also retire as a director of Hitachi, Ltd. after approval of this change at Hitachi’s Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders which will be held in June 2015. Mr. Hatchoji is widely credited with fostering greater collaboration between Hitachi Group companies in the Americas. Effective April 1, 2015, Hitachi America, Ltd. will also appoint Mr. Eriyoshi Konno, currently its Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, as President and CEO reporting to Mr. Domme. He succeeds Mr. Masaya Watanabe who will become President and CEO of the Healthcare Group and Healthcare Company, Hitachi, Ltd.