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Kyocera International Announces Reorganization

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Kyocera International today announced a reorganization that it says will streamline major elements of its U.S. management structure, effective July 1, 2016. The streamlining is intended to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and eliminate redundant processes.

Under the new structure, San Diego-based Kyocera International, Inc. will absorb four of its wholly owned subsidiaries, and will operate their existing businesses as a single enterprise.

Tetsuo Kuba, chairman of Kyocera International, Inc. and chairman of Japan-based Kyocera Corporation, the group’s global parent, will continue in both executive positions.

Robert E. Whisler, who was named president of Kyocera International, Inc. on April 1, will lead the operations undergoing consolidation. He succeeds John S. Rigby, Jr., who retired this year.

Whisler, a 35-year Kyocera veteran, was elected to Kyocera Corporation’s board of directors on June 24, and currently serves as president of two of the subsidiaries to be consolidated.

Subsidiaries to be Consolidated into KYOCERA International, Inc. on July 1:

  • San Diego-based Kyocera America, Inc., who’s president is Robert E. Whisler, will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Semiconductor Components Group, manufacturing and marketing microelectronic packages, and providing semiconductor assembly services. It will be led by Nick Huntalas, currently a vice president of Kyocera America, Inc., in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
  • San Diego-based Kyocera Communications, Inc. (who’s president is Akira Iino) will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Communications Equipment Group, providing sales, marketing, service and support for Kyocera-brand mobile phones. It will be led by Iino in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
  • Scottsdale, Arizona-based Kyocera Solar, Inc. (who’s president is Hitoshi Atari) will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Solar Energy Group, providing sales, marketing and support for solar photovoltaic modules and systems used in residential and commercial power generation. It will be led by Atari in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
  • Hendersonville, North Carolina-based Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation (who’s president is Robert E. Whisler) will be consolidated along these product lines:
    • Its Fine Ceramics Division will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Fine Ceramics Group, manufacturing and marketing industrial ceramics, led by Kazuyoshi Togo, who becomes a vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
    • Its Automotive Components Sales Division will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Automotive Components Sales Division, marketing ceramic components for automotive applications, led by Kazumi Nishikawa, who becomes a divisional vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
    • Its Display Division will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Display Division, marketing industrial and automotive flat-panel displays, led by Cynthia Ferrell, who becomes a senior divisional vice president of Kyocera International, Inc.
    • Its Printing Device Sales Division will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s Printing Device Sales Division, marketing thermal, and ink-jet print heads, led by Doug Potter, who becomes a sales division general manager of Kyocera International, Inc.
    • Its other marketing units specializing in consumer ceramics, medical components and optical components will become Kyocera International, Inc.’s CMO Sales Division, marketing such products under the leadership of Bill Yermal, who becomes a sales division general manager of Kyocera International, Inc.

“Unifying these operations will streamline Kyocera’s processes significantly while enhancing service to all of our business partners,” Whisler stated. “Our customers will gain efficiencies by transacting with a single enterprise, and our supply chain will be strengthened by aggregation.”

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