Yaskawa Electric Corporation Announces EMEA Executive Leadership Change

Marcus Mead (53) is stepping into the regional executive head position at Yaskawa Europe GmbH. The British executive joined Yaskawa in 2018 as Vice President of Operations, following a career built across Aerospace Engineering with British Aerospace (Commercial Aircraft) Airbus Division, the Automotive Industry with Magna International and Industrial Automation with Parker Hannifin. Since September 2018, he has been leading the European Robotics Division based in Allershausen near Munich. Additionally, since March 2023, Mead has held the position of President EMEA at the headquarters in Hattersheim, near Frankfurt.

Throughout his tenure, Mead has actively driven Yaskawa’s European development, particularly in the field of robotics. Notable outcomes of this period are the accelerated regional subsidiary reinforcement to ensure increased accessibility of Yaskawa`s broad product portfolio and development of regional manufacturing for robotics and systems.

In 2019, Yaskawa inaugurated its first European robot factory in Kočevje, Slovenia, which now supplies approximately 80% of the European demand for Motoman robots, and in 2023, Yaskawa significantly increased its capacity for robotics system engineering and assembly via a 10,000 sqm expansion in Allershausen. The goal is to achieve European leadership in this domain. Mead recently stated: “Yaskawa will continue to focus our efforts in being a customer centric organisation with streamlined processes, dedicated and committed people who are capable to deliver highly reliable products, solutions and services to ensure our customer’s success. This is the primary objective of our Drives, Motion, Controls and Robotics Divisions.”

“In the last six years, Marcus Mead has made significant strides for Yaskawa in Europe,” acknowledges Bruno J. Schnekenburger, as he praises his successor. “I am pleased that Yaskawa EMEA can continue to rely on his energy and expertise built from a successful leadership career to guarantee Yaskawa’s future development.”

Schnekenburger himself can look back on successful ten years at Yaskawa, as emphasized by Marcus Mead: “Bruno J. Schnekenburger has shaped Yaskawa’s successful direction in EMEA, and for that, we are immensely grateful.” Since 2014, Schnekenburger has held responsible positions at Yaskawa, initially as President of the European Robotics Division, then as Chief Operating Officer, and since 2018 as President & Regional Head. Additionally, since 2020, he has served as Senior Executive Officer of the Japanese parent company, Yaskawa Electric Corporation.