Kyocera International, Inc. recently announced a reorganization that will streamline major elements of its U.S. management structure, effective July 1. The streamlining is intended to reduce costs, enhance efficiencies and eliminate redundant processes.

Under the new structure, San Diego-based Kyocera International, Inc. will absorb four of its wholly owned subsidiaries and will operate the existing businesses as a single enterprise. Tetsuo Kuba, chairman of Kyocera International, Inc. and chairman of Kyocera Corp., the group’s global parent, will continue in both executive positions. Robert E. Whisler, who was named president of Kyocera International on April 1, will lead the operations undergoing consolidation. He succeeds John S. Rigby, Jr., who retired this year. Whisler, a 35-year Kyocera veteran, was elected to the Kyocera Corp. board of directors on June 24, and currently serves as president of two of the subsidiaries to be consolidated.

The subsidiaries to be consolidated into Kyocera International are: San Diego-based Kyocera America, Inc.; San Diego-based Kyocera Communications, Inc; Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kyocera Solar, Inc; and Hendersonville, N.C.-based Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp.

Kyocera America, Inc. (president: Robert E. Whisler) will become Kyocera International’s Semiconductor Components Group, manufacturing and marketing microelectronic packages, and providing semiconductor assembly services. It will be led by Nick Huntalas, currently a vice president of Kyocera America, Inc., in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International. Kyocera Communications, Inc. (president: Akira Iino) will become Kyocera International’s Communications Equipment Group, providing sales, marketing, service and support for Kyocera-brand mobile phones. It will be led by Iino in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International. Kyocera Solar, Inc. (president: Hitoshi Atari) will become Kyocera International’s Solar Energy Group, providing sales, marketing and support for solar photovoltaic modules and systems used in residential and commercial power generation. It will be led by Atari in his new role as vice president of Kyocera International.

Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp. (president: Robert E. Whisler) will be consolidated along product lines. Its Fine Ceramics Division will become Kyocera International’s Fine Ceramics Group, manufacturing and marketing industrial ceramics, led by Kazuyoshi Togo, who becomes a vice president of Kyocera International. Its Automotive Components Sales Division will become Kyocera International’s Automotive Components Sales Division, marketing ceramic components for automotive applications, led by Kazumi Nishikawa, who becomes a divisional vice president of Kyocera International.

Its Display Division will become Kyocera International’s Display Division, marketing industrial and automotive flat-panel displays, led by Cynthia Ferrell, who becomes a senior divisional vice president of Kyocera International. Its Printing Device Sales Division will become Kyocera International’s Printing Device Sales Division, marketing thermal and inkjet printheads, led by Doug Potter, who becomes a sales division general manager of Kyocera International. Its other marketing units, specializing in consumer ceramics, medical components and optical components, will become Kyocera International’s CMO Sales Division, marketing such products under the leadership of Bill Yermal, who becomes a sales division general manager of Kyocera International.

“Unifying these operations will streamline Kyocera’s processes significantly while enhancing service to all of our business partners,” said Whisler. “Our customers will gain efficiencies by transacting with a single enterprise, and our supply chain will be strengthened by aggregation.”

For more information, visit http://global.kyocera.com.