AGRICULTURE and construction machinery manufacturer Kubota has appointed Tetsu Kojima as its new managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

Originally from Japan, Mr Kojima has worked with Kubota for 33 years. He is joining the team from his previous role as US general manager for sales and marketing department in the firm’s construction machinery division.

Mr Kojima said he was looking forward to the opportunity to provide his global expertise in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

“Australia and New Zealand are world leaders in agriculture, and I’m thrilled to be part of Kubota’s journey in expanding its product offering and presence in the region”, he said.

“Our customers are diverse, whether it be on farms, construction sites, golf courses or backyards across Australia. They need to know they have a partner that has their back.

“Kubota is valued for its reliability and ongoing machinery support and will be a focus as we continue to grow.”

Mr Kojima said while the construction and agriculture industries are booming across ANZ, ensuring resilient supply chains in the face of global instability and delivering products Australians can rely on is foremost.

“Across our business – from sales and marketing, to service, quality assurance, parts, engineering and administration – we are committed to working across every segment to provide value to our customers,” Mr Kojima said.

“We are focused on fostering good partnerships with dealers, including training and quality assurance services and keeping ahead of technology advancements through our R&D and innovation.

“Growing our presence in the construction sector will be a key source of growth for the business .”

Kubota general manager of sales and marketing, Malcolm Owens, said Mr Kojima’s appointment would provide fantastic insights for Kubota’s local future growth plans.

“We are thrilled to have Mr Kojima on our shores to share his global expertise and help serve the ANZ market,” Mr Owens said.

“With extensive experience in the agriculture and construction machinery space, we are eager to expand our products and services under his leadership.”

Mr Kojima said he is looking forward to meeting with customers and dealers in Australia and New Zealand to strengthen relationships and identify areas for growth.

Kubota Australia supplied agriculture, construction, and power equipment to this market for more than 40 years. All Kubota equipment is distributed and serviced through the company’s authorised dealer network, consisting of more than 140 dealers Australia-wide.

It is a subsidiary of Kubota Corporation, a multinational company headquartered in Osaka, Japan, employs more than 35,000 people worldwide and its products are distributed across 31 countries.

By Neil Dowling