Yaskawa America names new CEO

Yaskawa America has announced the promotion of Mike Knapek, president and COO of the drives and motion division, to the position of CEO.

Knapek takes over for Masahiro Ogawa, who has led Yaskawa’s drives, motion, and robotics business in the Americas for the past five and a half years. Ogawa will return to Kurosaki, Japan, to take on the role of corporate vice president and general manager of Yaskawa’s global robotics business.

In his new role, Knapek will lead both the drives and motion and Motoman Robotics divisions of Yaskawa America. He will also continue to serve as president and COO of the drives and motion division, while Steve Barhorst will remain president and COO of the Motoman Robotics Division.

In August, 2015, Knapek, became corporate vice president of Yaskawa Electric Corporation in Japan. He joined Manfred Stern from Yaskawa Electric Europe to become the first non-Japanese members of the Yaskawa Electric Executive Committee.

Knapek began his career with Magnetek, Inc. in 1986. After Yaskawa acquired the drives division from Magnetek, he grew to take on leadership roles in several product areas. He later became responsible for the drives business in North and South America. Knapek became president and COO of Yaskawa America Inc. in March of 2011. Under his direction, Yaskawa has increased market share every year, including record-setting years in 2014 and 2015.