Shuzo Kobayashi
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1899, he graduated from Tokyo University of Commerce in March 1924 and joined Fuji Electric in April of that year. After serving as a director of Shinano Electric in 1930 and Nagano Electric in 1939, he was brought into Shin-Etsu Chemical as a Director in June 1942. He was 43 when he joined and had no record of rising through the ranks within the company. Nagano Electric was led by Junzo Kosaka, who became its president in May 1931 and carried out its rebuilding, so this was a move from the power side into chemicals. He became General Manager in March 1945 and Representative Director and Managing Director in June 1947.
Selection
In July 1971 he rose from Representative Director and Executive Vice President to President. He had been Executive Vice President for 11 years. He was 72 when he took office, 17 years older than his predecessor Tokusaburo Kosaka. Kosaka had become a member of the House of Representatives in December 1969, and the change appears to have been made to free him from holding both posts. In the same month, July 1971, Shintaro Odagiri was promoted to Representative Director and Executive Vice President, and he became the successor three years later.
Initiatives
His tenure lasted three years, from July 1971 to July 1974, overlapping with the first oil crisis. Net sales grew from ¥42.8 billion in the fiscal year ended May 1971 to ¥76.1 billion in FY ended May 1974, and ordinary income from ¥2.6 billion to ¥6.8 billion. In February 1973 the Takefu Plant began producing rare earth magnets, and in July of that year the company established Shintech Inc., a PVC manufacturing subsidiary in Texas. The US PVC business began within these three years. In July 1974 he handed the presidency to Shintaro Odagiri and moved to Chairman.
Career
Career
Fuji Electric
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1924 | Joined |
Shinano Electric
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Joined |
Nagano Electric
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1939 | Director |
Shin-Etsu Chemical
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jun 1942 | Director |
| Mar 1945 | General Manager |
| Jun 1947 | Representative Director, Managing Officer |
| Jul 1956 | Representative Director, Senior Managing Officer |
| Jul 1960 | Representative Director, Executive Vice President |
| Jul 1971 | Representative Director, President |
| 1974 | Chairman |
References 4
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 日本企業要覧 1975年版
- 日本企業要覧 1962年版
- 企業の歴史 : 明治百年（経済春秋社, 1968）
- 信越化学工業 有価証券報告書【沿革】