Sean Taylor has been appointed as managing director of Komatsu Australia.
 
Mr Taylor, who has been general manager of the company's construction and utility division for the past seven years, has more than 25 years' experience in the industry.
 
According to the board of Komatsu Australia, his appointment comes at a pivotal time for Komatsu in this region and reflects the depth of capability within the company's local management team.
 
Mr Taylor assumes all the responsibilities held by the company's outgoing president Bill Pike, who has resigned to pursue other challenges.
 
"I am very pleased to accept this promotion and appreciate the confidence shown in me by our shareholders," he said.
 
"I would like to assure all of our valued customers that my central focus will be to meet and exceed your expectations. Naturally, I am totally reliant on over 1600 extremely talented managers, employees and contractors. Only by maximising the teamwork and synergies of all Komatsu employees, external suppliers and importantly Komatsu manufacturing capabilities in Australia and overseas, can we meet the incredible growth challenges we are likely to face in Australia," Mr Taylor said.
 
Last year Komatsu launched what it claims is the world's first hybrid forklift. Komatsu also claims to be the Australian market leader in the electric mining dump truck market.
 
Globally, Komatsu spends about $1.7 million every day in R&D. The company has 40,000 employees and an annual turnover in 2009-10 of US$15.4 billion.
 
Komatsu Australia supplies equipment for mining, construction, forestry and most other material handling industries across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. It employs more than 1600 people working from 41 sales and service facilities.