Komatsu Rebrands Company-Owned Distributors in East, West, Southwest North America
Komatsu has created a new structure in North America “to strengthen the growth of company-owned distributor branches.” A new corporate unit within Komatsu has been created and effective immediately, all company-owned distributor locations will be branded simply “Komatsu” to reflect their inclusion in the company’s global footprint.
The change supports Komatsu’s long-term strategic plans to grow and strengthen its distribution channels. With the alignment of these larger groups of premiere distributors, customers will have access to additional equipment and parts inventory, as well as greater service and support resources. Trade territory for the renamed branches remains the same, as do all equipment lines sold, and services provided.
Grant Adams, former president of Komatsu Southwest, has been appointed to lead the new unit as vice president and general manager of company-owned distribution. His responsibilities will include defining strategy, managing profitability and continuing to develop strength among the regional leadership teams.
The rebrand effects the branches along the eastern seaboard formerly named: Pine Bush Equipment, Midlantic Machinery, Komatsu Northeast and Edward Ehrbar; those in New Mexico and Texas under the name Komatsu Southwest; and sites in Nevada, Montana, Utah and Wyoming under the Komatsu Equipment Company banner.
“More than just a name change, this decision shows Komatsu’s commitment to provide the best customer support in the territories where these branches do business,” said Rod Schrader, chairman and CEO of Komatsu’s North American operations. “Ultimately, we want to make it an easy decision for customers to come back to us again and again for equipment, service and solutions.”
“Customers can rest assured that the team helping them grow their businesses yesterday will be there for them tomorrow,” said Adams. “They’ll just have more resources. And I’m looking forward to taking all the best practices at a regional and branch level and incorporating them across the organization, so the whole equals more than the sum of its parts.”
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.