Echo President Takes Position in Japan

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. – Kioritz Corporation of Japan, the parent company of Echo Incorporated, recently named Yasuhiko (Chuck) Kitazume as president of Kioritz Corporation, effective Feb. 27, 2003. The incumbent president, Yasuhiko Tanizawa, will remain on the company's board of directors as chairman.

Kitazume recently returned to Japan after serving four years as president of Echo Incorporated, Lake Zurich, Ill. Throughout his 33-year career in the outdoor power equipment industry, Kitazume has assumed a number of key positions both at Echo and Kioritz, including senior vice president of operations at Echo from 1988 to 1992 and general manager of production engineering at Kioritz from 1996 to 1998. Tanizawa has been president of Kioritz Corporation since 1995, after completing a 37-year career with Mitsui & Company.

Well liked and respected by Echo's employees and customers, Kitazume enjoyed a successful tenure as president of Echo, setting the stage for the company's future growth within the industry.

Based in Lake Zurich, Ill., Echo Incorporated designs and manufacturers professional-grade and consumer outdoor power equipment and is a subsidiary of the Kioritz Corporation of Japan. Echo is the No. 1 brand in commercial, handheld outdoor power equipment and is becoming the favored brand for residential homeowners who prefer commercial-grade performance.