Daikin Applied has appointed Yu Nishiwaki as president and CEO, James Moe as chief operating officer, and Hirokazu Hirao as chief operating officer of manufacturing. The appointments took effect on July 1, 2026, as the company expands its capabilities and pursues its fiscal 2026 priorities and Fusion30 global vision.
Nishiwaki had served as Daikin Applied’s COO since 2023. He has nearly three decades of experience with Daikin, including positions as general manager for Daikin Air Conditioning Italy and vice president of strategic planning for Daikin Applied Americas.
Moe, who joined Daikin Applied in 2016, will combine oversight of the company’s Air Handling, Chiller and Applied Terminal Systems business units with his existing responsibility for sales, service, solutions and Alliance Air Products.
Hirao joins Daikin Applied after more than 37 years with Daikin Industries. He most recently served as general manager of the global Applied Solutions Business Division and will focus on manufacturing consistency, operational execution and production capacity.
The leadership changes come as Daikin Applied invests in technologies and capabilities for mission-critical environments, including data centers. The company recently announced a $163 million R&D test laboratory at its Plymouth, Minnesota, headquarters and has made acquisitions in liquid cooling and custom air handling.
“From commercial buildings and healthcare facilities to schools, manufacturing operations and data centers, the demands on today’s built environment are rapidly evolving,” Nishiwaki said. “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.”
