Press release submitted on behalf of LS Mtron IMM.
New role provides continuity as company accelerates toward 20% North American market share goal
LS IMM USA CEO Charlie Kim announced today that Peter Gardner, who recently retired as president of the company, will remain with LS IMM USA in the newly created role of Chief Advisor, supporting the organization’s continued growth and helping maintain strategic and operational consistency as the company advances toward its goal of 20% North American market share.
Kim joined LS IMM USA after a successful tenure with LS Tractor, the company’s highly recognized farm tractor business, which operates two U.S. manufacturing locations. His transition to LS IMM USA reflects LS Mtron’s continued commitment to strengthening its North American industrial footprint and expanding localized capability in the United States.
In the chief advisor role, Gardner will assist with strategic coordination across marketing, sales and service leadership, key customer relationships and ongoing initiatives designed to support LS IMM USA’s growth plan.
Gardner helped usher LS IMM USA through a period of rapid expansion that included 101% year-over-year growth and the achievement of 10% market share in North America.
“LS IMM USA is positioned for a very strong next chapter,” Gardner said. “This advisory role gives me the flexibility I wanted to pursue personal interests and spend more time with my family — while still allowing me to support the company, the team and the customers that helped fuel our rapid growth.”
During Gardner’s tenure, LS IMM USA strengthened its commercial and operational execution by assembling a deep bench of proven industry veterans across sales, service and operations. That leadership team includes Paul Caprio, now president, and John Wiley, recently promoted to vice president of operations, along with other experienced professionals who helped expand customer coverage, accelerate responsiveness and scale field execution. Together, and with the strong support of Global CEO Chai Ho Shin, the team propelled LS IMM USA’s rapid expansion across North America, earning broad customer acceptance and establishing one of the fastest market share growth trajectories in the industry.
“LS IMM USA has built strong momentum in North America, and maintaining continuity matters as we move into the next phase of our growth plan,” said Shin. “Peter Gardner’s decision to remain with the organization as chief advisor supports a smooth transition and reinforces our long-term commitment to expanding our presence and capability in the U.S. and Canada.”
Added Caprio: “Peter has been instrumental in helping establish LS IMM USA as a true competitor in the North American market. Continuity matters when you’re growing this quickly, and having Peter continue on as Chief Advisor helps keep the team aligned and focused on execution.”
Prior to joining LS IMM USA, Gardner served as vice president and general manager of the plastics machinery division for Daiichi Jitsugyo America (DJA). In 2017, he identified LS Mtron to replace the Niigata line of equipment for DJA and later led LS Mtron’s buyout of the DJA machinery division so LS could grow faster in the U.S.
Gardner began his career together with Caprio, as a sales engineer with Machinery Systems Inc. in Chicago in 1988. He earned his bachelor’s in business from DePaul University in Chicago and his bachelor’s in plastics engineering from Illinois State University.
About LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine
LS Mtron is part of the LS Group, a South Korean-based conglomerate with over 25,000 employees, annual revenues of over $42 billion and profit of approximately $8.2 billion. LS Mtron Injection Molding Machines (LS IMM), a division of LS Mtron, was started in 1969 by South Korean tech giant LG Corporation, one of the world’s largest plastic molders. Founded initially to satisfy their own production needs for injection molded components used in their world-famous TVs, appliances, electronics, and other products, today LS IMM produces thousands of machines a year, not only for use by our network of LS-related and LG-founded companies but also for thousands of molders around the world.
Since 2021, the LS Group has invested $722 million in a number of its businesses in the U.S., demonstrating unwavering commitment to long-term growth and innovation.
Beginning with the development of Korea’s first injection molding machines, LS IMM prides itself on quality, service and fast deliveries. The combined strength of the LS family of companies allows us to solve many of the world’s supply-chain challenges. Because of this, LS IMM can provide new custom molding machines to our customers in North America in just 100 days from casting to cargo, or even faster from our stocked inventory.