Kubota North America announced significant leadership changes following the Kubota Corporation (KBT) board of directors meeting held in Osaka, Japan. Effective January 1, 2024, Nobuyuki Ishii will take over both as CEO of Kubota North America (KNA) and senior managing executive officer of KBT, while Todd Stucke will assume the role of president of Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC) and executive officer of KBT. Both appointments succeed Shingo Hanada, who will be promoted to director and senior managing executive officer of KBT in Japan.

Ishii, who has been with Kubota for 40 years, will also become KTC chairman, providing support to Stucke as the new president of KTC. Previously, Ishii has worked as president of Kubota Europe and as VP of Kubota Engine of America. In his current role, he supervises all of Kubota's overseas operations.

Kubota North America is comprised of Kubota Tractor Corporation, Kubota Credit Corporation, based in Grapevine, Texas; Kubota Canada, with operations based in Pickering, Ont., Canada; Kubota Manufacturing of America, based in Gainesville, Ga.; Great Plains Manufacturing, based in Salina, Kan.; and Kubota Engine of America, based in Lincolnshire, Ill.

With 35 years of equipment and agriculture industry experience, Stucke is currently the vice chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and will assume chairman of the board in 2024. He has previously served two terms as treasurer of the AEM Board, as well as Ag Sector Board Chair in 2020.

Additionally, Brian Arnold, current president of Kubota Manufacturing of America (KMA) and VP of KNA, has been appointed as an executive officer of KBT and will take on the role of head of manufacturing for KNA. He succeeds Takanobu Azuma, executive vice president of KNA, who is being promoted to managing executive officer of KBT in Japan. Arnold joined KMA in 1995 and will maintain his dual role as KMA President in addition to his newly appointed role for KNA.

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