Megabass of America, the US arm of Japan’s most revered builder of high-end fishing tackle, announced today that it has hired Kenichi Iida, formerly of Shimano America Corp, as a Sales & Product Development Manager, to begin immediately. His role will be multifaceted. In addition to helping the company’s pro-staff conceive and create products suited to North American fisheries, Iida will work in sales and marketing, in furtherance of the ongoing effort to build a strong Megabass presence in the North American market.

“Kenichi brings years of valuable experience to our rapidly growing company,” said Yuskei Murayama, Vice President of Megabass of America. “Not only will his presence significantly enhance our R&D efforts, but his unbridled passion for fishing, an uncompromising eye for detail, and sharp business acumen make him an ideal ambassador for the Megabass brand as we focus on communicating our core values to the growing North American market.”

“Growing up in Japan, Megabass’s exceedingly high quality, forward-thinking design, and unique concepts made an unforgettable impression on me,” said Iida, who has contributed substantially to the development of Shimano reels in recent years. “Megabass’s commitment to craftsmanship is as strong now as it was then, making Megabass a true one-of-a-kind manufacturer to work with. I am very excited to join the Megabass team, and not only help anglers and dealers alike unlock the potential in each product, but also communicate Megabass’s unique fusion of Japanese traditional and modern angling philosophy to North America.”