MINNEAPOLIS — Daikin Applied named Yu Nishiwaki president and CEO, James Moe COO, and Hirokazu Hirao as COO of manufacturing. The appointments took effect July 1 and are intended to strengthen the company's operations as it pursues its strategic growth plans.

Nishiwaki previously served as COO since 2023. He brings nearly 30 years of experience with Daikin, including leadership positions with Daikin Air Conditioning Italy and Daikin Applied Americas.

“It is an honor to serve as President and CEO of Daikin Applied,” said Nishiwaki. “Having served as COO, I’ve seen firsthand the talent, dedication and ingenuity of our people, and that gives me tremendous confidence in what we can accomplish together. From commercial buildings and healthcare facilities to schools, manufacturing operations and data centers, the demands on today’s built environment are rapidly evolving. As we look ahead, we will continue strengthening customer relationships, advancing innovation and empowering our teams to deliver lasting value for the people and industries we serve."

Moe, who joined Daikin Applied in 2016, will oversee the company's Air Handling, Chiller, and Applied Terminal Systems business units in addition to his existing responsibilities for sales, service, solutions, and Alliance Air Products. According to Daikin Applied, the expanded role is designed to better align operations and customer support across the business.

“This is a pivotal moment for Daikin Applied, and I am excited to step into this new role,” said Moe. “The combination of Nishiwaki’s strategic leadership and our unified operational focus creates a powerful engine for success. Together, we are perfectly positioned to deliver the high-performance building technologies and services our customers need to meet the demands of today and the future.”

Hirao assumes his new role after more than 37 years with Daikin Industries Ltd. Most recently, he led the company's global Applied Solutions Business Division. Daikin Applied said Hirao will focus on strengthening manufacturing operations and supporting production growth.

“As Daikin Applied expands its solutions portfolio and production capabilities, our manufacturing operations must be a source of strength,” said Hirao. “I’m focused on driving consistency and operational excellence across our footprint to ensure we can deliver for our customers at the scale and speed they expect.”

According to the company, the new leadership structure supports continued investment in commercial and industrial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies for mission-critical applications, including data centers.

Daikin Applied said increasing demand driven by artificial intelligence workloads and cloud computing is accelerating the need for advanced cooling technologies. To support that growth, the company recently announced a $163 million research and development test laboratory at its Plymouth, Minnesota, headquarters and has completed strategic acquisitions in liquid cooling and custom air-handling technologies.