Steve Milligan CEO of Hitachi GST

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies announced the appointment of Stephen Milligan as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He will continue to be based at the company’s San Jose, California headquarters.

 Mr. Milligan joined Hitachi GST as chief financial officer in September 2007 and was appointed president earlier this year. He has led a senior management team responsible for making significant financial and operational improvements, including an expansion of the product portfolio to include personal storage and other high-growth offerings. He has been instrumental in positioning the company for sustained profitable growth and long-term industry leadership.

“Steve has played a leading role in the Hitachi GST business transformation and we are pleased to appoint him as CEO,” said Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. “He will continue to drive operational excellence, while building long-term value for customers and shareholders. Steve has a depth and breadth of experience that will help ensure his continued success leading one of the storage industry’s most promising companies.”

Hiroaki Nakanishi will remain as chairman of Hitachi GST to further strengthen the Hitachi GST and Hitachi, Ltd. relationship. He continues to serve as a Hitachi, Ltd. executive vice president, responsible for Hitachi Group’s global strategy.

Mr. Milligan, a 24-year veteran of the technology industry, brings a unique combination of experiences to his new position. Before joining Hitachi GST, he served as senior vice president and CFO for Western Digital where he played a key role in helping the company deliver consistent profitability, diversify its revenue base and achieve industry-leading cash and asset efficiencies.

Previously, he worked for Dell in financial and accounting roles of increasing responsibility. Steve’s hard disk drive roots trace back to his early experience at Price Waterhouse, where he worked for 12 years. At Price Waterhouse, he was responsible for auditing IBM’s global manufacturing operations, including IBM’s HDD business. His experience with IBM and Dell also helped Steve develop a deep understanding of the PC industry.

Steve Milligan earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University in 1985. In November 1985, he received the Elijah Watt Sells Award, which recognizes Certified Public Accountant candidates with the highest achievements on the Uniform CPA Examination.