Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. recently named Ken Barina, its former vice president of corporate planning and services, as its new president.

Barina replaces Hiroshi Nagai, who served as president of the Houston-based forklift manufacturer for two years. After leaving MCFA, Nagai will return to Japan to work for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

MCFA is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Caterpillar Industrial Inc. The company manufactures Cat, Mitsubishi and Jungheinrich AG forklifts.

MCFA’s new president, Barina, has worked at the company since 1992 and most recently worked closely with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on the company’s strategic plan.

In the fall of 2012, MCFA revealed that it would stop production of forklifts at facilities in Japan and the Netherlands to expand production capacity at its headquarters in Houston.

At the time of the announcement, Barina told the Houston Business Journal the move was part of a global restructuring plan to put more focus on Houston manufacturing.