Canon U.S.A. Inc. has announced executive appointments and promotions that took effect Jan. 1. These new appointments reinforce Canon's commitment to elevating its employees and placing them in positions to succeed.

Hiroto Kato was promoted to vice president of the Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. Kato first joined Canon Inc. in 1997 working with the camera group. After working for Canon U.S.A. from 2009 to 2013, he returned to Canon Inc. and rose through the ranks to senior director before transferring back to Canon U.S.A. in July 2022.

Additionally, Shuji "Steve" Suda has transferred from Canon Inc. to serve as vice president and general manager of the Hybrid-Workplace Solutions Group. Suda has worked for Canon since 1998 and has also worked extensively for Canon U.S.A., first from 2005 to 2007, and also from 2011 to 2018 in the inkjet printer group. He took over for Isao "Sammy" Kobayashi, who was named president and CEO of Canon Canada.

In other news, Canon U.S.A. Inc. has announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., earned another top-five finish from IFI CLAIMS Patent Services in their newly published 2022 Top 50 U.S. Patent Assignees.

Canon's 2,694 granted U.S. patents for 2022 ranked fifth overall, extending its streak to 37 consecutive years finishing among the top five for the number of patents granted while sustaining a run of finishing in the top 10 in every year since 1983. Canon also finished first in U.S. patents granted among Japanese companies for the 18th consecutive year.

"Canon has been in the top 10 of the IFI U.S. Top-50 patent ranking for several decades," said Mike Baycroft, CEO, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. "This says a lot about how much it reveres innovation and how committed it is to protecting it."

Canon promotes the development and utilization of intellectual property rights to help maintain a robust patent portfolio. Securing patents in the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large-market scale, remains a key component in the plan for developing strong technological alliances.

"It is important to continue to pursue opportunities for innovation to help adapt to the evolving needs of our customers," said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. Inc., and senior managing executive officer, Canon Inc. "Another high placement on the IFI CLAIMS list is a strong reflection of our commitment to delivering innovative ideas and solutions and a testament to the dedication of our staff in this endeavor."

Canon is focused on creating new technologies in its current four core business groups of printing, imaging, medical and industrial equipment. The company is also focusing on developing fundamental technologies and new business in fields such as next-generation imaging, volumetric video, health care and artificial intelligence. Along with developing new core competency technologies and fundamental technologies in new business fields, Canon continues to promote the acquisition and utilization of intellectual property rights for such technologies.