HCME appoint new president and chief executive officer
Francesco Quaranta appointed to succeed Takaharu Ikeda with effect from 1 April 2024
HITACHI Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) have announced the appointment of Francesco Quaranta as their new president and chief executive officer, effective from 1 April 2024. He will replace Takaharu Ikeda, who will continue in the roles of chairman of the management board of HCME and Hitachi Construction Machinery regional general manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Northwest Africa (EMEA).
Mr Quaranta brings more than 20 years’ international experience in the machinery sector to HCME, having held roles in strategic marketing and later as a P&L owner in a performance-oriented culture.
His early career began with management consulting at Ernst & Young and AT Kearney in Italy. He then moved to the machinery industry, covering supply chain and marketing leadership roles at CNH Industrial.
Mr Quaranta’s next appointment took him to AGCO Corporation, where he held senior leadership roles with P&L responsibilities, ranging from sales and marketing, to the launch of new high-technology content products, and global parts and service. Most recently, he supported major corporations on profitability turnaround and private equity firms as a senior advisor in the industrial arena.
After working in Italy, the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland, Mr Quaranta speaks fluent English and French, as well as his native Italian. He will be based in Amsterdam.
‘I am very grateful and honoured by the trust given to me through the appointment to this role,’ he said. ‘The Hitachi Construction Machinery products and services are widely recognized as reliable solutions. I am excited to see the plans for technology expansions on such a solid product range, which will define an even stronger future. Together with our distribution partners, we will pave and walk the road to an even superior customer experience.’
Mr Ikeda said: ‘I would like to thank everyone for the trust and support they have invested in me during my time as the president and CEO of HCME over the past three years. It has been an innovative and inspirational period in the company’s history, with everything from our 50th anniversary celebrations to the unveiling of the first Hitachi electric excavator range at Bauma 2022. Naturally, I am delighted at the prospect of continuing to work in Amsterdam with HCME and my broader role within the EMEA region.’
