CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
19 March 2007
Company News
Invention Machine Continues Global Expansion with Opening of New Japanese Office
Invention Machine Corporation announced that it has opened a regional office in Japan and has appointed Kiyoshi Shikakura as Invention Machine's Vice President of Sales, Asia Pacific North Rim. The new office, located in central Tokyo, builds upon Invention Machine's long-standing commitment to the Asia Pacific region and reflects the growing regional demand for Invention Machine's flagship product, Goldfire InnovatorT.
Invention Machine has been working with resellers and distributors in Asia Pacific for more than ten years, and has amassed a customer base that includes some of the foremost names in electronics, appliance, automotive, industrial and life sciences manufacturing, including: Toshiba Medical, SONY, LG Electronics, Omron Corporation, Samsung, LG Micron, NEC, POSCO, Matsushita, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Taiwan Power, JFE Steel, and Hitachi LTD.
The new regional headquarters will provide strategic sales support for Invention Machine's growing base of channel partners and customers across the Northern Rim of Asia Pacific. In his new role, Kiyoshi Shikakura will direct the opening of the new office in central Tokyo, and will oversee Invention Machine's operations in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Shikakura brings to Invention Machine more than 18 years of software sales and management experience. Shikakura comes to Invention Machine from Mathsoft Engineering and Education, Inc. (acquired by Parametric Technology Corporation in April 2006), where he served as Director of Asia Pacific Sales and Marketing, first established Mathsoft's Japan office and led direct and channel sales for the company's North Rim territories. Prior to MathSoft, Shikakura worked for Cybernet Systems Co, Ltd., a Japanese-based company specializing in sales and support of scientific and engineering software, for more than fifteen years. At Cybernet, Shikakura's responsibilities included sales, marketing and operations. Shikakura has an economics degree from Waseda University in Tokyo.
"The Asia Pacific region continues to be very strategic for Invention Machine, and building out an infrastructure in Japan to support the growing Asia Pacific distributor and customer-base is strategically significant for the company's continued success," said Mark E. Atkins, Chairman, President and CEO of Invention Machine. "Shikakura-san is a key addition to the Invention Machine executive team. His sales and management strength along with his strong relations with the Japanese and other Asian manufacturing and engineering communities will enable Invention Machine to further dedicate itself to the success of its distributors and customers - in Japan and throughout Asia Pacific. We look forward to building a strong long-term presence in Asia Pacific."
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