Yasusaburo Sato
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He graduated from Fukushima Higher Commercial School in March 1926, joined Meidi-Ya that month, and moved to Kirin Brewery in January 1927. That year Kirin Brewery ended Meidi-Ya's exclusive distributorship, absorbed its sales function and created a sales department. He became general manager of planning in July 1960, counselor in July 1961 and general manager of accounting in March 1966, and advanced to Director in September 1965, Managing Director in September 1966 and Senior Managing Director in March 1971. His was an administrative career through planning and accounting.
Selection
In September 1973 he succeeded Asajiro Takahashi as President, with Takahashi moving to Chairman. In the same September 1973 Shizuji Kidono became Senior Managing Director and Mitate Yamazaki and Hideji Konishi Managing Directors, so the change refreshed the officer ranks wholesale. By 1971, when he was senior managing director, the company had decided about three years earlier to push expansion beyond beer and diversification with an eye ten to fifteen years ahead, and had signed a memorandum of alliance with Seagram. The man who had first called for diversification became president.
Initiatives
In August 1975 the company adopted the "Fiscal 1975 Structural Plan: Laying the Groundwork for Stable Growth" and entered its first phase of diversification. It set up Koiwai Dairy Products in June 1976 and KW Inc. in the United States in May 1977. Net sales grew from ¥481.8 billion in the FY ended January 1974 to ¥786.3 billion in the FY ended January 1978, and ordinary income from ¥17.9 billion to ¥40.6 billion. Increasing the number of businesses rather than adding market share extended the concept he had laid out himself as senior managing director. He became Chairman in April 1978.
Career
Career
Kirin Holdings
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Representative Director, President |
| 1977 | Stepped down as President |