DENSO Corp. has named Haruhiko “Hal” Kato president of DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc.

LONG BEACH, Calif. - DENSO Corp. has named Haruhiko "Hal" Kato president of DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc. (DPAM), the aftermarket sales, manufacturing and distribution arm of the global automotive supplier. Kato succeeds Yoshihiko Yamada, who retired after 38 years with the corporation.

An engineer by training, Kato joined DENSO in 1986 after earning his bachelors degree from Kobe University and began his career in air conditioning systems research and development. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility within the corporations global network, including overseas assignments at DENSO International Asia Pte. Ltd.in Singapore from 1995 to 2001 and DENSO Europe B.V. in Amsterdam from 2001 to 2006.

In 2012, Kato became general manager of the Aftermarket Business and Product Development group of DENSOS Climate, Heating and Cooling Product Division at corporate headquarters in Kariya, Japan. In April 2015, Kato relocated to Southern California to join DPAM as the companys senior executive coordinator.

"DENSO is a trusted brand synonymous with superior quality, value and customer service," Kato said. "It is my goal to lead the DPAM team in advancing products and services that build on our commitment to meeting our customers needs in a manner that improves quality of life for all people."

As president of DPAM, Kato will oversee 470 employees at the companys facilities in Long Beach and Murrieta, Calif. His duties include managing the sales, manufacturing and distribution operations of all groups under DPAM: DENSO Light Vehicle Parts, Commercial & Heavy Duty, MovinCool, Robotics and Automated Data Capture (ADC) devices.

About DENSO Products and Services Americas:
DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc. is an automotive components sales, remanufacturing and distribution company that employs 470 people in Long Beach and Murrieta, Calif. The companys product line includes heavy-duty and automotive alternators, starters, oil, cabin and air filters, spark plugs, AC compressors, oxygen sensors, ignition wires, fuel pumps, fuel injectors and wiper blades. DENSO Products and Services Americas supplies parts for original equipment service dealers, independent aftermarket service centers and retailers. In addition, the company distributes heavy-duty diesel and electrical components, portable commercial air-conditioning units and industrial robots. For more information, go to www.densoautoparts.com.

About DENSO:
DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics, information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs nearly 140,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015, totaled US$35.9 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.2 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.globaldenso.com, or visit our media website at www.densomediacenter.com.

About DENSO in North America:
In North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 33 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. DENSOs North American consolidated sales totaling $8.0 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.