Katsumi Kato becomes the new President and Chief Operating Officer of ASICS Europe BV effective on 1st April 2008. Kato succeeds Koji Hieda, who has spent the last three and a half years strengthening ASICS’ European organisation.
From 1981 to 2003, Kato fulfilled various roles at ASICS Corporation Japan in the company’s sales, product and marketing teams. In 2004, he became Director of ASICS’ SportStyle division at ASICS Europe BV. In 2006, he was appointed Executive Vice-President responsible for product, marketing and the European Design Centre.
In the coming years, Kato aims to further strengthen the European organisation and the company’s respective national sales operations. His appointment comes amidst other management changes at ASICS in Europe. In November 2007, Michael Price took on the role of Marketing Director of ASICS Europe. Price previously worked as Marketing Director of Reebok UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands. In January 2008, Marek Szostek was employed as General Manager for ASICS Polska to expand the newly formed ASICS subsidiary in Poland.
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