Misumi Group appoints Dave Evans from Fictiv to head North American operations as global sourcing strategies evolve

Dave Evans Appointed President and CEO of Misumi Americas

Dave Evans, the co-founder and CEO of the digital manufacturing company Fictiv, has been named president and CEO of Misumi Americas by the Misumi Group.

This leadership change comes after Misumi Group’s $350 million acquisition of Fictiv in 2025, a move that significantly broadened the Japanese industrial supplier’s reach in the United States, China, India, and Mexico.

Evans is set to merge Misumi Americas and Fictiv into a single, AI-driven platform that will deliver both standard and custom components for industries such as climate technology, robotics, medical devices, EVTOL, aerospace, and factory automation.

“We’re ushering in a new chapter for manufacturing in the Americas,” Evans stated in a press release. “By integrating these businesses onto one digital platform, we’re providing customers with unparalleled access to both standard and custom parts, enhanced by AI, digital manufacturing, and exceptional precision. This will enable innovators throughout the U.S. to accelerate their journey from concept to production.”

Evans takes over from Nobuyuki Ashida, who led Misumi USA for the past ten years.

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Focus on Cross-Border Manufacturing

With Fictiv’s operations and supplier networks spanning the U.S., China, India, and Mexico, Evans brings valuable experience in managing international sourcing during a period marked by shifting tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and increased nearshoring.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Misumi Group is a leading global supplier of ready-made industrial components, operating 22 manufacturing plants and 20 logistics centers worldwide. The company serves 318,000 businesses globally with its extensive product range.

Founded in 2013, Fictiv specializes in on-demand sourcing for custom mechanical parts, supporting the U.S. manufacturing sector with facilities in the U.S., China, India, and Mexico, and employing 400 people.

Evans will lead the integration of standard and custom manufacturing services throughout the Americas, guiding clients from design to production while helping them navigate customs, tariffs, and evolving trade regulations.

This initiative also aims to connect American customers more closely with Misumi’s international network, which supports over 320,000 companies and handles more than 200,000 shipments daily.

“The Americas represent a key growth market for Misumi,” said Ryusei Ono, president of Misumi Group Inc. “By advancing our digital business model, investing in AI in the U.S., and incorporating Fictiv, we plan to achieve substantial growth by 2030. The combination of Japanese quality and American digital expertise will establish a unique manufacturing platform globally.”

Strategic Expansion Across the Americas

Misumi Americas will drive growth between East and West through key locations:

• San Francisco: A hub for innovation, AI, software, and startups, and the base for Evans.
• Chicago/Schaumburg, Illinois: Focused on logistics, customer service, and manufacturing leadership in the Midwest.

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Tariffs, Nearshoring, and Mexico’s Rising Importance

Evans steps into his expanded role as U.S. manufacturers contend with higher tariffs on imports from China and India, along with increasing unpredictability in trade policy.

Recently, Fictiv’s leadership has described tariffs as the “new normal,” prompting customers to carefully evaluate sourcing strategies before selecting production locations.

Fictiv’s platform already offers real-time visibility into duty rates and cost modeling as tariffs shift by product and country of origin—capabilities that will be extended to Misumi Americas under Evans’ guidance.

In 2023, Fictiv launched a manufacturing site in Monterrey, Mexico. Demand for nearshoring continues to grow as manufacturers weigh factors like labor supply, logistics reliability, tariff exposure, and overall costs.

Originally published on FreightWaves.