Ryuichi Otsuki CEO, HDS

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation announced that Jack Domme will lead Hitachi’s Social Innovation business in the Americas reporting directly to Hitachi, Ltd. president and CEO, Toshiaki Higashihara.

In this role, he will focus on accelerating Hitachi’s Social Innovation business, primarily in the areas of the IoT and the development of smart cities. To focus on his new role, he will be leaving his position as CEO of HDSms.

Jack Domme served for seven years as CEO of HDS, where he led the transformation from a storage provider into an information solutions company. He was appointed to this new role because he has demonstrated the ability to lead global transformation, execute on a long-term strategic plan, and outpace the market in revenue growth. Hitachi’s Social Innovation business opportunity is the unifying strategy that brings together the power and breadth of the entire Hitachi, Ltd. group to deliver IoT and smart city solutions.

Domme has been named chairman and CEO and a member of the Board of Hitachi Information and Telecommunications Systems Global Holdings Corporation (HIGH). In this role, he will be responsible for enhancing collaboration between Hitachi Consulting (HCC), HDS, and other Hitachi Group companies in supporting the achievement of the Hitachi Social Innovation strategy for the Americas region and beyond. He will continue as VP and executive officer of Hitachi, Ltd., as well as chief executive of the Americas.

“There has been no greater or more transformational opportunity for Hitachi than Social Innovation,” said Domme. “Hitachi is not only a pioneer in the development of smart cities and the IoT, but we also have a unique ability to deliver on the promise of each. No other company in the world has both the industrial and operational expertise, along with decades-long leadership in information technology. And those are exactly the elements required to be a leader in this market. I am very excited and humbled by the opportunity to help lead Hitachi through this next major transformation.”

Ryuichi Otsuki will succeed Domme as CEO of HDS. He joins from his role as VP and executive officer, GM of social innovation business promotion division and deputy GM of corporate sales and marketing group at Hitachi, Ltd. He joined the HDS board in 2009 and has been instrumental in the development of HDS’ long-term strategy to expand its portfolio in the areas of infrastructure, content and analytics linking to Hitachi’s Social Innovation vision – making the IoT that matter a reality.

“Social Innovation is the most significant initiative Hitachi has undertaken in its 106-year history,” said Otsuki. “We are transforming businesses and societies to deliver better outcomes for people around the world, and HDS is instrumental to Hitachi delivering on this strategy. I want to thank Jack and his team for positioning this company so well for further success, and I look forward to working closely with him in his new role to continue to grow HDS and our global Social Innovation business.”

These new executive appointments will be effective April 1, 2016.