Kubota Corp. last week named Yuichi “Ken” Kitao president of Kubota Tractor Corp., based in Torrance, Calif. Kitao, who earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tokyo University, has been with Kubota Corp. for 32 years in the company’s engineering and tractor machinery division. Kitao is also an executive officer of Kubota Corp.

Kitao most recently served as general manager, Tractor Division, at Kubota’s Farm and Machinery Division in Japan. He held positions previously in the United States with Kubota Tractor Corp.’s Central Division from 1999 to 2000 in Texas. Kitao has been instrumental in the ongoing growth of Kubota’s line of M-Series agriculture and utility tractors throughout his career.

“We are committed to our strong dealer network and our customers in the United States,” Kitao said. “Kubota Corporation is dedicated to improving and investing in our equipment manufacturing business in the U.S. and globally, to provide our dealers and their customers with the highest quality, industry leading equipment.”

Kitao succeeds Dr. Satoshi Iida, president of Kubota Tractor Corp. from 2009 through 2010. Dr. Iida has been promoted to the position of general manager of Machinery Division International Operations in Osaka, Japan.

Kubota Tractor Corp., Torrance, Calif., is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-branded equipment, including a complete line of tractors up to 118 PTO hp, performance-matched implements, compact and utility-class construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, commercial turf products and utility vehicles.