New Company President for DENSO in Liberec

CZECH REPUBLIC (31 JANUARY 2022) – Liberec-based DENSO Manufacturing Czech (DMCZ), a manufacturer of car air conditioners and their components, introduced a new company president on January 17, 2022.  Mr. Homare Kotate replaced Shinichiro Yamaji, who had been in charge since 2016.

This change follows the Japanese custom where the leading representatives of major Japanese companies rotate their positions at regular intervals. Homare Kotate is the fifth president of the company in its nearly 21-year history. He began his professional career with DENSO in 1987 and prior to joining DMCZ has acted as the Director of Thermal Systems Manufacturing Development Department in the parent company of DENSO Corporation in Japan. He brings experience in managing various functions within the global DENSO Group.  "We are prepared to stand the test of the current challenging environment. I am ready to join forces with all our employees to build our bright future together. Of course, I will pick up the threads of my predecessor, Mr. Shinichiro Yamaji’s work and pursue his policies," said the new President Homare Kotate on taking office.

“Over the last five years, our business environment has been affected by many external negative factors, such as the easing of the Czech currency and its subsequent appreciation, labour force shortage or the coronavirus epidemic. However, thanks to efforts of our employees who have worked hard to meet our goals and their ability to carry their work through to the end, we have been able to successfully face these challenges. I am quite confident that they will continue to cope with these difficult conditions under the leadership of Homare Kotate. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff for the work we have done together during my time here," said the outgoing president Shinichiro Yamaji, reflecting on his time at DMCZ.

With more than 2,500 employees, Liberec DENSO is one of the largest employers in the Liberec-South Industrial Park. Its biggest customers are the Volkswagen Group, Ford, BMW, Suzuki, Toyota (TMMCZ), but also Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini. The rise of electromobility will most certainly carve the future of the entire automotive industry including DENSO and will undoubtedly reflect into the air conditioners manufactured in its factory in Liberec. "Although the coronavirus pandemic has hit the automotive industry hard, our company has made great efforts to face the unprecedented challenges of electromobility. We are capitalizing on the competitive advantage of the entire DENSO Group, its technological edge and the strength of a successful company. This position, supported by further investments, is a prerequisite for the long-term prospects of DENSO Manufacturing Czech," says Jiří Heteš, the Head of Human Resources Department, in his summary of the current situation.