Osamu Watanabe
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in April 1964 and served as Administrative Vice-Minister of International Trade and Industry in July 1997. After retiring, he chaired the Japan External Trade Organization from July 2002, joined Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) as Representative Director and Executive Vice President in June 2007, and became President in June 2008. As of the fiscal year ended March 2006, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry was the largest shareholder with 49.94%, and the company, with the government holding nearly half its capital, brought in a former MITI vice-minister.
Selection
In June 2008 he succeeded Yuji Tanahashi as President. He had joined as Representative Director and Executive Vice President the previous June, so the promotion came one year after arriving from outside. In the fiscal year ended March 2008, the year before he took office, consolidated sales rose to ¥207.6 billion from ¥170.0 billion the previous year, while operating profit fell from ¥29.7 billion to ¥19.6 billion. At a company in which the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry held 49.94%, a former official was brought in from outside and made President.
Initiatives
Consolidated sales grew from ¥202.1 billion in his first year, FY ended March 2009, to ¥304.9 billion in FY ended March 2015. Along the way, in FY ended March 2013, the company posted ordinary profit of ¥28.1 billion but a net loss of ¥0.9 billion. In his final year, FY ended March 2016, sales were ¥240.3 billion, operating profit ¥8.3 billion and net income ¥2.1 billion, with operating profit below the ¥19.6 billion of the year before he took office. Investment during this period went toward acquiring overseas oil and natural gas interests.
Career
Career
Ministry of International Trade and Industry
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1964 | Joined the ministry |
| Jul 1997 | Vice-Minister of International Trade and Industry |
Japan External Trade Organization
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jul 2002 | President |
Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX)
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jun 2007 | Representative Director, Executive Vice President |
| Jun 2008 | Representative Director, President |
| Jun 2016 | Representative Director, Chairman |
| Jun 2016 | Stepped down as President |
| Jun 2023 | Chairman |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 石油資源開発 有価証券報告書（役員の状況）