UniCarriers Americas president Peter Kruse resigns

UniCarriers Americas Corporation president Peter Kruse has announced he will resign due to personal reasons effective May 2, 2013. Nissan Forklift, North America merged with TCM America to form UniCarriers Americas earlier this month. Akira Shiki, current officer and general manager of product merchandising, UniCarriers Corporation, will become the new president of UniCarriers Americas Corporation.

“My career at UniCarriers Americas has been both challenging and rewarding. My decision to resign is for personal reasons relating to my family, and I would ask everyone to respect this very difficult decision that I have made,” said Peter Kruse, resigning president, UniCarriers Americas.

UniCarriers Americas has a strong, experienced executive leadership team in place, and the new president brings years of experience with the operations at the Marengo headquarters, as well as with the network of authorized dealers.

“I am looking forward to returning to Marengo to lead UniCarriers Americas and re-establish my connection with the passionate employees, dealers, suppliers, and end customers that have been the core of this company’s success,” said Shiki.

Kruse joined the company in 2004 as chief financial officer, and during his five years in the position he eliminated the company’s debt and achieved the highest divisional profit ever. He was promoted to the position of president in 2009, where he lead all aspects of the company, with a key focus on improving market share and cash flow, and the development of innovative new products, as well as leading the merger efforts.

Shiki was vice president, product engineering for Nissan Forklift Corporation, North America, in Marengo from 1998 to 2004, until returning to Nissan Forklift’s global headquarters in Japan, where he served as general manager, management and planning department. In 2010 he was promoted to CEO and president of Nissan Forklift Co., Ltd, the global Nissan Forklift business, and was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S subsidiary at that time. When UniCarriers Corporation was created in 2012, he accepted the position of officer and general manager of product merchandising, UniCarriers Corporation, and he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of UniCarriers Americas Corporation.