IRVINE, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) has announced that Masafumi “Masa” Nakagawa will succeed Takeshi “Tak” Teranishi as president of the company, effective April 1.  Nakagawa, who spent six years at KMC’s Irvine headquarters in the late 1990s, will transition to his new position when Teranishi, who joined KMC in 2009, leaves to assume the presidency of Kawasaki Motors Corporation Japan.

Nakagawa, the new KMC president, joined the parent company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) in 1977, after receiving a degree in Economics from Kyoto University.  He held several titles within KHI and subsidiary companies in Japan and Europe in addition to his earlier posting in the United States.  Most positions emphasized marketing and sales, and included a three-year stint as the managing director of Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. as well as his recent position as general manager of the Marketing and Sales Division of KHI’s Motorcycle & Engine Company in Japan, where he was also promoted to executive officer in 2010.

“Masa’s experience in all aspects of Kawasaki’s business operations will allow the company to continue its growth path and strengthen efforts to broaden our brand’s impact in the powersports arena,” said Teranishi, the outgoing KMC president.

During Teranishi’s tenure at KMC, the company introduced several new products that have helped to increase its market share.  Included among these are the Ninja 300, KLX 250S, Vulcan® 1700 Voyager, Teryx4, Brute Force® 300 and Jet Ski Ultra 310 series.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcyles, ATVs, Side X Sides, and personal watercraft through a network of more than 1,200 independent retailers, with an additional 7,400 retailers specializing in Kawasaki general purpose engines.  KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with 300 of them located at KMC’s Irvine, Calif. headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll,” is recognized worldwide. For five decades, the Kawasaki brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.