Hitachi, Ltd has announced its annual executive update, which includes news that Andrew Barr, currently Group CEO of Hitachi Rail, will become the Vice President and Executive Officer, in charge of Regional Strategies (EMEA), and President of Hitachi Europe Ltd, effective 1 April. The new Group CEO of Hitachi Rail will be Giuseppe Marino, effective 1st April.

In the newly created role, Mr Barr will lead the EMEA region corporate headquarters. Mr Barr will report directly to Mr Keiji Kojima, Hitachi, Ltd.’s Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO.

“I’m excited by this new opportunity to deliver Hitachi’s ambitions to serve customers and society across the many sectors in which Hitachi is present in Europe,” said Andrew Barr, Group CEO, Hitachi Rail. “Over the last four years as Group CEO for Hitachi Rail, I am proud to have led our teams through the global pandemic, delivered the global integration of our signalling capabilities, driven the significant expansion of our presence in the USA and Canada, and launched our new Smart Mobility business.

“With his strong background in international management and transportation engineering, I am confident of Giuseppe’s ability to lead our teams to deliver Hitachi Rail’s commitments under the mid term management plan.”

Mr Marino is currently CEO and General Manager of Ansaldo Energia Group, and previously held senior leadership roles in Hitachi Rail, including Group COO of Rolling Stock. Mr Marino, who has a strong background in engineering and international management, brings with him experience from the automotive and security technologies sectors. In his previous role at Hitachi Rail, Mr Marino drove the integration of Ansaldo Breda and Ansaldo STS; delivered the ETR1000, Italy’s flagship very high speed train now operating in Spain and France, and ensured operational excellence at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe factory in the North East of England.

“I am proud to be returning to Hitachi Rail at this very exciting time,” said Giuseppe Marino, CEO and General Manager Ansaldo Energia Group. “Andrew’s leadership of Hitachi Rail has seen it grow considerably in recent years, and the roadmap established in the mid-term management plan is just as exciting. I am committed to ensuring that we will remain focused on serving our customers and society, leading our teams to pioneer greener and more digital solutions, and successfully closing the planned acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business.”