Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America Selects James D. Solomon, VP & CFO as Next CEO

Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, part of Sumitomo Drive Technologies, announced James D. Solomon as the corporation's next President & Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Solomon, who currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will succeed Ronald J. Smith, President & CEO, on January 1, 2017.

"I have had the good fortune to work for and with some extremely talented and honorable people in my 35+ year career; I have never worked with anyone who has demonstrated a higher degree of personal character and integrity than Jim. I consider it a blessing to have had Jim by my side for the past 12+ years and could not have imagined doing my job without him." - Ronald J. Smith, President & CEO of Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America

Mr. Solomon holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University and an MBA from the College of William & Mary. In addition, he holds a number of professional certifications including; Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Senior Professional in Human Resources. He joined Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America (SMA) in 2000 as the Assistant Controller and quickly rose through the ranks. He was chosen as Vice President & CFO in 2006, and in 2014, was appointed to Executive Vice President & CFO.

In the position of President & CEO, Mr. Solomon will oversee operations throughout the Western Hemisphere including, 18 facilities spanning across the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America. As a proven leader for Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, Mr. Solomon's unique skills, knowledge and understanding of the power transmission industry will continue to be instrumental in SMA's future growth and success.

As a long-time resident of Hampton Roads, Mr. Solomon understands SMA's mission statement-Deliver the Highest Customer Value with the Best People and Continuous Process Improvement-is important not only to the company, but to the community. He and Pam, his wife of 30 years, reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.