Panasonic Announces New Leaders in Automotive Systems and Factory Solutions

SECAUCUS, NJ--Dec. 30, 2011: Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced that it has named Tom Gebhardt president of Peachtree City, GA-based Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America and M. Faisal Pandit president of Rolling Meadows, IL-based Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America. Mr. Pandit succeeds Mr. Gebhardt who has been concurrently serving as President of Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America and Panasonic Industrial Company.  Both Mr. Gebhardt and Mr. Pandit will assume their new leadership roles on January 1, 2012.

Mr. Gebhardt, who is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and has also done post-graduate work at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, will lead Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America.  The company provides systems and components to the North American automotive industry for creation of integrated vehicle solutions including premium audio systems and connected car concepts. 

Mr. Pandit, a 20-year Panasonic veteran, who currently serves as Director of Solutions within the same company, will lead Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America, a premier supplier of robotic and manual arc welding equipment.  The company is also a source for electronic assembly equipment (SMT), software and technical support and provides total business systems solutions for electronic semiconductor and packaging companies in the global marketplace. 

Mr. Pandit holds a BS from the University of Illinois, an MS from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation , and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations.  Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (Global Green Brands).  As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America will relocate its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in 2013.  Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at Panasonic.