Zetwerk, the IPO-bound manufacturing startup, has appointed Vadim Yakubov as the CEO of its US subsidiary, Unimacts, to accelerate its expansion in the crucial US market. This move comes as part of the company’s strategic push to strengthen its operations in North America, where the US subsidiary contributes 20-25% of Zetwerk’s global revenue.

Since launching its operations in the US in 2019, Zetwerk has seen significant growth, with its team in the country now comprising 350 employees. Recently, Unimacts expanded its footprint by establishing three factories and six operations centers across the US, reinforcing its commitment to the market.

Unimacts, which stands for Universal Industrial Manufacturing Services, provides a range of manufacturing services including tooling, castings, forgings, fabrications, and machine shop services to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in North America, Western Europe, Japan, and Australia. The company sources its products from high-quality suppliers in low-cost countries, allowing it to remain competitive in global markets.

Zetwerk’s co-founder and COO, Srinath Ramakkrushnan, emphasized the importance of the US market in the company’s global growth strategy. “With Vadim at the helm of Unimacts, we’re well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. His experience and strategic vision align perfectly with Zetwerk’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse,” said Ramakkrushnan.

Yakubov brings nearly three decades of experience in the manufacturing industry. Before joining Unimacts, he led Acument, a solutions provider for designing and manufacturing, and held senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Precision Castparts, Novares Group, and Ford.

Zetwerk’s appointment of Yakubov aligns with its ambition to go public in the near future. The company has shortlisted several major investment banks, including Axis Capital, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase, to lead its upcoming IPO, which is expected to raise $500 million and value the startup at $5 billion. The company’s recent $70 million funding round in December valued Zetwerk at $3.1 billion, with plans to expand in sectors such as renewables, consumer electronics, and aerospace.