Hiroshi Yamazaki
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Tokyo in 1914, he graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law in March 1939 and joined Sumitomo Mining that April. He became a Director of Sumitomo Metal Mining in November 1965 and its Managing Director in May 1969, and moved to Sumitomo Forestry as Senior Managing Director in November 1972. His time at Sumitomo Forestry began with two years as Senior Managing Director; the 33 years before that were spent at the mining company.
Selection
In November 1974 he succeeded Katsumi Yasuda as President. Yasuda stepped back to Chairman that month and became Director and senior adviser in May 1976. Yamazaki had moved to Sumitomo Forestry only two years earlier, in November 1972, and served just two years as Senior Managing Director. Kenjiro Kawakami, President of Sumitomo Metal Mining, had also been a Director of Sumitomo Forestry since November 1968, and officers moved between the two companies. This change, too, appears to have rested on the ties with Sumitomo Metal Mining.
Initiatives
In October 1975 the company established Sumirin Housing Sales in Tokyo and Osaka and entered the custom-built housing business. In April 1977 it established Sumirin Ryokka, expanding into landscaping and greening. Net sales grew from ¥104.4 billion in the fiscal year ended September 1975 to ¥182.4 billion in FY ended September 1979, and ordinary profit from ¥0.3 billion to ¥2.2 billion. This was the period when a company selling timber and building materials took on its own business of contracting and building houses.
Career
Career
Sumitomo Metal Mining
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1939 | Joined Sumitomo Mining |
| Nov 1965 | Director |
| May 1969 | Managing Director |
Sumitomo Forestry
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Nov 1972 | Senior Managing Director |
| Nov 1974 | President |