ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2006) — Akebono Corp. of North America named Steve Murakami general manager of aftermarket sales, among other promotions in the original equipment and aftermarket divisions.
Mr. Murakami joined Akebono in Japan in 1985 and has served as general manager of the aftermarket sales group with Akebono—Japan since 2004.
Ken Selinger also was named director of marketing and product development. In this new post, Mr. Selinger will be responsible for managing new product development in the aftermarket and will take on the management of global product procurement. Most recently he served as senior manager of marketing and product development with the aftermarket sales division.
On the OE side of the business, Akebono named Hiro Sato general manager of original equipment sales,
Mr. Sato joined Akebono in 1986 as a member of the production control department at a plant in Japan. He has been working in sales since 1991 and joined the North American subsidiary in January as director of Japanese OE sales.
Additionally, Akebono named Diane Switzer director of domestic OE sales. Most recently she served as sales manager for Ambrake in Elizabethtown.
Akebono also named Matt Knowles director of Japanese OE sales. Mr. Knowles has been a part of the sales department since 1991 and most recently served as sales manager for Japanese sales.