Fukutome Named President of Yamaha Corporation of America

...as president of YCA since April 2010, overseeing a period of growth for the company despite a difficult financial climate in the United States.

“Our company achieved important milestones during my time here in the U.S., including YCA’s 50th anniversary and Yamaha’s 125th anniversary,” said Nakata. “With our exceptional management team, we successfully pulled YCA out of the severe recession that began in 2008 and, I believe, built a stronger foundation for our company. I know that Mr. Fukutome will bring us continued success in the future.”

Fukutome has been president of Yamaha Korea since 2010. He previously served as general manager, sales and marketing department of the Yamaha Piano Division in Japan, where he worked on many milestone events at the company, including the acquisition of Austrian piano manufacturer Bösendorfer and the implementation of the new global factory strategy.

He began his career at Yamaha in 1982, and in 1987 he joined the staff of the Piano Division’s Overseas Sales & Marketing Section. In 1990, he was promoted to manager, Piano Division of Yamaha Europe GmbH in Hamburg, Germany, and in 1995 became CEO, Yamaha Music Austria GmbH . He was named manager, overseas sales & marketing section of the Piano Division in 1997.

His tenure in the United States began in 2000, with his appointment to the position of assistant general manager of the Yamaha Keyboard Division and later to assistant general manager of the Music Marketing Group (MMG) before returning to Japan in 2004.

“As we continue to celebrate Yamaha’s 125th anniversary, it is a pleasure and honor to return to the U.S. as president of YCA, where I had such a rewarding experience earlier in my career,” said Fukutome. “I look forward to building upon our company’s legacy of unparalleled quality and technological innovation.”

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