Kawano takes over as MD of JTEKT India

Akihiko Kawano has taken charge as Managing Director of JTEKT India Limited, (Formerly known as Sona Koyo Steering Systems Limited), from July 1, 2018. He has 37 years of experience and has held several leadership roles within JTEKT Corporation, both within and outside Japan. Kawano joins JTEKT India after heading JTEKT’s Nara operations in Japan. Prior to this, he served as President for JTEKT Group company in Malaysia, and as President for JTEKT in the Czech Republic.

“We are thankful to Kiyozumi Kamiki who has returned to Japan after his term of five years. He has taken his next assignment in JTEKT Japan,” Hidekazu Omura, Chairman, JTEKT Group India, said. “We also take this opportunity to welcome Kawano to India during these exciting times. He joins us soon after our recent name change. I am now looking forward to his vast experience of leading Nara operations which has been rated the number one facility across JTEKT globally,” he said.

“I am excited to join JTEKT India team and am looking forward to building on the growth potential for the company. We are extremely focused on how we want to drive India operations for JTEKT and are ambitious about our roadmap ahead,” Kawano said.

JTEKT Corporation Japan holds leadership position in the manufacturing and sale of steering systems, driveline components, bearings, machine tools, electronic control devices and home accessory equipment. It has 149 subsidiaries in 28 countries and 1 region supported by a strong team of about 49,589 employees.

JTEKT India is the country’s leading manufacturer of steering systems and is the supplier of choice to major auto manufacturers, supplying steering gears, columns and RPS assemblies to almost all Indian passenger car and utility vehicle manufacturers.