Kunio Noji has been appointed Komatsu Ltd's new president & CEO.

Komatsu Group has announced high-level management changes, which take effect in June.

Masahiro Sakane, Komatsu Ltd's president and CEO, will replace Toshitaka Hagiwara as chairman of the board.

Sakane, 66, who was born in Shimane prefecture, graduated from Osaka City University's engineering faculty in 1963. He joined Komatsu Ltd the same year.

He was made a director in June 1989.

In November 1990, Sakane became chief operating officer of Komatsu Dresser Company, now known as Komatsu America Corp.

In 1999, he became executive vice president then, in 2001, president and, in 2003, president and CEO.

Hagiwara will be appointed Komatsu Ltd's consultant and senior adviser.

Kunio Noji, Komatsu Ltd's director and senior executive officer, will be appointed president and CEO.

Noji, born in Fukui prefecture, graduated from Osaka University's school of engineering science in 1969.

He joined Komatsu Ltd in April 1969. In February 1993, he was appointed general manager of the production control department in the technical division. In July 1995, he was made plant manager of the Chattanooga manufacturing operation at Komatsu Dresser Company.

Before becoming director, senior executive officer and president of the production division, Noji held a string of executive positions that included supervising Komatsu's constructing and mining equipment business.

Noji is married with two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and mountain climbing.

Komatsu Forklift Co Ltd, its parent company Komatsu Ltd, and other companies belong to the Komatsu Group.

Komatsu Forklift Co Ltd and Komatsu Zenoah Co Ltd will merge on April 1, 2007 and be known as Komatsu Utility Co Ltd. Komatsu Forklift Co Ltd president Takeo Shibuya will be appointed chairman of Komatsu Utility Co Ltd. Komatsu Ltd production division's current president, Susumu Isoda, will become Komatsu Utility president (Forkliftaction.com News #294).