Kunio Egashira
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined Ajinomoto in April 1962 and became general manager of the frozen foods department in July 1984. He advanced to Director in June 1987 and Managing Director in June 1991, and in June 1995 became Senior Managing Director and Representative Director at the same time. It took him 25 years from joining to reach the board, less than Toru Nishiyama (joined April 1965, director June 1993) or Keiichiro Aihara (joined April 1965, director June 1995), who sat on the same board. He rose to the board through the processed foods business rather than research or pharmaceuticals.
Selection
In June 1997 he replaced Shunsuke Inamori as President. He was promoted two years after becoming Senior Managing Director and Representative Director in June 1995. In June 2003 he also became Chief Executive Officer, and in June 2005 Chairman. During his tenure, in July 2004, he also took on the role of corporate auditor of The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was chosen on the basis of reaching the board faster than his peers and expanding the business while in charge of processed foods.
Initiatives
The company launched ABF, an insulating material for semiconductor packages, as an electronic materials business, establishing a source of earnings outside food. Consolidated net sales grew from ¥908.5 billion in the FY ended March 2001 to ¥1,039.5 billion in the FY ended March 2004, exceeding ¥1 trillion for the first time. In that same FY ended March 2001 the company posted a net loss of ¥11.5 billion. In the FY ended March 2005, his final year, net sales were ¥1,073.0 billion, operating income ¥70.9 billion and net income ¥44.8 billion, and consolidated headcount rose from 23,739 in the FY ended March 2001 to 25,812.
Career
Career
Ajinomoto
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1962 | Joined |
| Jul 1984 | General Manager, Frozen Foods Department |
| Jun 1987 | Director |
| Jun 1991 | Managing Director |
| Jun 1995 | Senior Managing Director |
| Jun 1995 | Representative Director |
| Jun 1997 | President |
| Jun 2003 | Chief Executive Officer |
| Jun 2005 | Chairman |
| Jun 2005 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 味の素 有価証券報告書【役員の状況】（2006年3月期）