News Center
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. Announces New Key Leadership Personnel
Vernon Hills, Illinois - July 07, 2020
In a series of hires and promotions, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. (MEAU) welcomes key personnel to new executive positions detailed below.
Milton Coleman, Vice President of Sales
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has named Milton Coleman as its new Vice President of Sales. He will report to the company’s America’s regional headquarters in Vernon Hills, IL and Scott Summerville, MEAU President & CEO.
In his new position, Coleman will have responsibility for all activities related to conceptualizing and implementing MEAU’s sales strategy and achieving sales targets to enable significant profitable growth of product, service and solution sales.
Coleman comes to MEAU with 27 years of experience in the automation industry. Prior to joining MEAU, Coleman was the Vice President of Distribution for Bosch Rexroth and Regional Vice President of Sales, Southeast Region with sales responsibility for hydraulic and factory automation technology. In both roles he was instrumental in developing and implementing strategies to support Rexroth’s sales growth through multiple channels.
Over his 23-year career with Bosch Rexroth, Coleman excelled at numerous positions in product and sales management covering the full range of Rexroth products. He started his career as a product specialist and application engineer for the Linear Motion group, and assumed roles with increasing responsibility including Product Manager, Distribution Sales Manager, and Manager of Sales and Product Management. In 2010, Coleman moved to the position of Regional Sales Manager, Factory Automation where he added Bosch Rexroth Electric Drives, Controls and Servos to his product portfolio. In 2012 he assumed the role of Regional Vice President of Sales. In this position he led a team of sales and application engineers focused on factory automation and hydraulic technologies and developed successful growth strategies for key accounts in the northeast, southeast and southwest regions.
Said Summerville, “I am very excited to have an accomplished sales leader like Milton join our team. He is a salesperson’s sales leader. With his experience in product, sales and distribution management along with his experience developing go-to-market strategies, Milton is uniquely suited to lead the MEAU sales team in driving revenue growth.”
Coleman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University.
Katsutoshi Urabe, Senior Vice President Strategic Planning and Corporate Development
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has named Katsutoshi Urabe as Sr. Vice President of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development. He will be based in the company’s America’s regional headquarters in Vernon Hills, Illinois and report to Scott Summerville.
Urabe will continue to be responsible for assisting the President & CEO of MEAU, Scott Summerville, to develop go to market as well as operational strategies for the business. He will also continue to provide strategic business coordination with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (“MELCO”) in Japan and lead the development of a mergers and acquisitions strategy for the Americas market as well as manage the North America Development Center (NADC), Regulatory Liaison Group (RLG), and expatriate relations function.
Urabe has spent his entire 24-year career with the Mitsubishi Electric family of companies. Prior to his current position, Urabe held roles at various Mitsubishi Electric companies with increasing levels of responsibility including: IA Product Marketing at Nagoya Works at MELCO (MELCO’s manufacturing campus in Nagoya, Japan); Product Marketing for Overseas Division at MELCO’s Tokyo Headquarters; Sales Management for Tokyo IA Sales Branch and Tokyo West Office at MELCO’s Tokyo Headquarters; Senior Director, Marketing for Mitsubishi Electric China; and Global Robot Senior Marketing Manager at MELCO’s Nagoya Works.
“Urabe-san has provided excellent strategic assistance to me and the other business leaders within the company. His insightfulness about the business and sensitivity to cultural differences and communication has made his counsel extremely valuable to the entire executive leadership team. He is very deserving of this promotion to Senior Vice President,” said Summerville.
Urabe received a degree in International Business from Kansai University and also spent time studying while on assignment in the UK.
Ken Innami, Vice President Business Development
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has named Ken Innami as Vice President of Business Development. He will be based in the company’s America’s regional headquarters in Vernon Hills, Illinois and report to Scott Summerville.
As Vice President of Business Development, Innami will be responsible for providing leadership, management, and vision necessary to execute the company’s vertical strategy to increase market share and deliver sustained profitable growth in select strategic vertical industries.
During Innami’s 24-year career with the Mitsubishi Electric family of companies, he has held various Sales & Marketing leadership roles, including heading up the Global Key Accounts, Marketing and Strategic Planning/M&A activity for MEAU in the Americas. Prior to joining MEAU in 2008, Innami held roles with increasing responsibility at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan, starting his career in Product Marketing at Nagoya Works, then moving to Global Sales & Marketing in Tokyo HQ.
“Ken’s knowledge of the industrial automation market and Mitsubishi Electric is unparalleled. In addition, his customer-centric approach, strategic mindset and drive to increase MEAU’s presence in the Americas market makes him a great choice to lead our business development activities as Vice President,” said Summerville.
Innami received his Master of Engineering in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University.
— About Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc.
Headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is a U.S. affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. It offers a broad product portfolio including programmable automation controllers (PAC), programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), variable frequency drives (VFD), servo amplifiers and motors, control software, computerized numerical controllers (CNC), motion controllers, robots and low-voltage power distribution products. Additional information about Mitsubishi Electric Automation is available at us.mitsubishielectric.com/fa/en/.
— About Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
With more than 100 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing, and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation, and building equipment. Mitsubishi Electric enriches society with technology in the spirit of its “Changes for the Better.” The company recorded a revenue of 5,003.6 billion yen (U.S.$ 37.3 billion*) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. For more information, please visit www.MitsubishiElectric.com.
*U.S. dollar amounts are translated from yen at the rate of \134=U.S.$1, the approximate rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2023
— About Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Business Group
Offering a vast range of automation and processing technologies, including controllers, drive products, power distribution and control products, electrical discharge machines, laser processing machines, computerized numerical controllers, and industrial robots, Mitsubishi Electric helps bring higher productivity – and quality – to the factory floor. In addition, our extensive networks around the globe provide direct communication and comprehensive support to customers. The global slogan "Automating the World" shows the company's approach to leverage automation for the betterment of society, through the application of advanced technology, sharing know-how and supporting customers as a trusted partner.
For more about the story behind "Automating the World" please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/fa/about-us/automating-the-world
— About e-F@ctory
e-F@ctory is Mitsubishi Electric's integrated concept to build reliable and flexible manufacturing systems that enable users to achieve many of their high speed, information driven manufacturing aspirations. Through its partner solution activity, the e-F@ctory Alliance, and its work with open network associations such as The CC-Link Partners Association (CLPA), users can build comprehensive solutions based on a wide ranging "best in class" principle.
In summary, e-F@ctory and the e-F@ctory Alliance enable customers to achieve integrated manufacturing but still retain the ability to choose the most optimal suppliers and solutions.
*e-F@ctory, iQ Platform are trademarks of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
*All other trademarks are acknowledged
— Media Contact
Pam Summers
Marketing Communications Manager
Mitsubishi Electric Automation
Pam.Summers@meau.com
+1 (847) 478-2415