Kioti Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA Inc., announces key leadership changes to strengthen its growth strategy across North America. The company welcomes Don Lowe as vice president of North American sales and promotes Tim Phillips to vice president of sales operations.
With more than 30 years of experience in sales, dealer development, and strategic growth within the agricultural and compact construction equipment industries, Lowe will play a key role in expanding Kioti’s market presence. Meanwhile, Phillips, a 20+ year veteran of Kioti, will leverage his deep knowledge of the company’s sales operations and dealer network to drive efficiency and growth in his new role.
“We are excited to welcome Don to the Kioti team and recognize Tim’s well-deserved promotion,” said Ryan Kim, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Kioti Tractor. “Don brings fresh ideas and a strategic mindset that will help drive dealer expansion and market growth, while Tim’s deep expertise and long-standing commitment to the brand will ensure operational excellence and continued support for our dealers and customers. Together, their leadership will be instrumental as we strengthen our presence across North America.”
In his new position, Lowe will oversee the Kioti market expansion strategy, working closely with the sales team to drive growth, improve customer engagement, and strengthen the brand’s position as a market leader. His extensive expertise in sales operations, dealer relations, and market development will support Kioti’s continued expansion across its product portfolio including tractors, compact construction equipment, utility vehicles, and zero-turn mowers.
Before joining Kioti, Lowe held various leadership roles at Kubota Tractor Corp., where he managed national sales teams, dealer programs, and strategic initiatives that increased market share and customer reach. His deep understanding of the equipment industry and commitment to dealer success make him a valuable addition to the Kioti leadership team.
Since joining Kioti in 2003, Phillips held several key positions including territory manager, eastern regional manager, and most recently, national sales manager. His extensive experience across these roles provide him with a deep understanding of Kioti’s dealer network, customer needs, and operational priorities.
During his tenure, Phillips successfully led the launch of new product segments, including zero-turn mowers in 2019 and compact construction equipment in 2023, contributing to consistent market share growth. His time in the field as a territory sales manager from 2003 to 2017 earned him valuable market and dealer insights, which continue to inform his strategic leadership. Phillips also spearheaded the implementation of Kioti’s sales and operations planning process and played a leading role in expanding the dealer network. In his new role, Phillips will oversee sales operations, market intelligence, marketing, and inside sales, driving continued growth and operational excellence across North America.
Kioti has an extensive network of more than 500 dealers throughout North America. For more information about Kioti Tractor, visit kioti.com or contact an authorized Kioti Tractor dealer.
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.