Hitachi names new Phl GM

MANILA, Philippines -  Hitachi Asia Ltd. has appointed a new general manager for its Philippine branch.

In a statement, the firm said it has appointed Mitsuhiko Shimizu as general manager of Hitachi Asia Ltd. Philippine Branch (HAS-PH).

His appointment took effect on Oct. 1.

Shimizu replaces Hitoshi Goto, who has moved on to a new role as general manager for corporate export regulation of percent firm Hitachi Ltd.

Prior to his appointment in the Philippines, Shimizu was general manager for Asia 1 Department of Hitachi Ltd.

He has extensive experience in the field of global sales in power business.

As the new general manager for HAS-PH, the firm said “Shimizu aims to promote Hitachi’s ‘social innovation business’ or advanced infrastructure business in the Philippines to contribute to the country’s economic development and sustainability.”

HAS-PH, incorporated in 1996, provides a wide range of products and services for various industry sectors like power generation systems, transmission and distribution systems, heavy industrial equipment, industrial components and equipment as well as elevators and escalators.

Some of HAS-PH’s product and service range includes finger vein biometric authentication systems and systems management solutions and rail transportation systems for businesses. It also supports the sales of plasma and LCD TVs and LCD projectors.

Apart from the Philippines, Hitachi Asia Ltd. has branches in other Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Earlier, Kiyoshi Kinugawa, Hitachi chief executive for Asia, said the firm is seriously considering participating in the country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

He did not identify what projects Hitachi is interested in, but noted that the company’s strength lies on social innovation business like social infrastructure and information telecommunication systems.

The government is aiming to roll out eight PPP projects this year.

Since the PPP’s launch in 2010, the government has awarded two projects so far, which are the Daang Hari - South Luzon Expressway link and the School Infrastructure Project.