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Alumnus Rod Schrader Becomes CEO/Vice Chair of Komatsu America
February 29, 2012
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology civil engineering alumnus
Rod Schrader is the new Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman
of Komatsu America Corp. The U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd.
is the world's second largest manufacturer and supplier of
construction, mining and compact construction equipment.
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Rod Schrader
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Schrader, a 25-year veteran of Komatsu America, replaces Dave
Grzelak, who will remain chairman of Komatsu America until the end
of June 2013.
"Rod has been an invaluable member of the Komatsu team for the
past 25 years and has consistently delivered excellent results both
in sales and customer satisfaction," stated Grzelak in a corporate
press release. "I am privileged to have been a part of the
Komatsu America leadership team and retire as CEO knowing that the
company is in excellent hands."
Prior to being named CEO, Schrader was executive vice president
and general manager of Komatsu America Corporation's mining
division. He began his career with the company in 1987 and
held positions in varied areas within Komatsu, including product
manager and manager of large equipment sales, director of
marketing, vice-president of product marketing and president of
Komatsu Utility Corporation. He was appointed as a Komatsu
America Corp. board member in 2010.
"I am very honored that the board has selected me to lead
Komatsu America Corp.," stated Schrader in the news release.
"By building on the success the company has had under Dave's
excellent leadership, I intend to continue to implement our
strategy and take advantage of the growing market opportunities for
Komatsu."
Schrader is a 1984 Rose-Hulman alumnus who was inducted into the
college's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. He ranks third on
the football program's career rushing list with 2,510 yards, holds
the single-season rushing record with 1,228 yards in his senior
season (1983), was an honorable mention All-American in 1983 and
was a two-time football team Most Valuable Player. He
received the Ruel Fox Burns Blanket Award as Rose-Hulman's top
graduating athlete in 1984.
After graduating from Rose-Hulman, Schrader went on to earn a
master's degree in business administration from Keller Graduate
School of Management. He now lives in Peoria, Ill., and
serves as a board member for Junior Achievement of Central
Illinois.
Komatsu America Corp. (www.komatsuamerica.com)
also serves the forklift and forestry markets. Through its
distributor network, Komatsu offers a state-of-the-art parts and
service program to support the equipment. Komatsu has proudly
been providing high-quality reliable products for nearly a
century.