Ryutaro Nakajima
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in 1911, he graduated from Kobe Higher Commercial School in March 1932 and joined Nippon Paint that April. He became a Director 31 years later, in June 1963, then Managing Director in December 1968, took charge of Tokyo from November 1970, became Senior Managing Director in June 1971, and Director and Executive Vice President in June 1974. It took 43 years from joining to the presidency.
Selection
In July 1975 he became President as Chiaki Obata moved to Chairman. The promotion came after a year as Executive Vice President, and since he and Obata were both born in 1911, it was a handover with no age gap. Around 1970 Nippon Paint had introduced a divisional structure for sales, R&D and production, and from November 1970 Nakajima had been in charge of Tokyo, overseeing sales in eastern Japan.
Initiatives
In July 1978, during his tenure, he reshuffled the board, promoting Masao Suzuki to Director and Executive Vice President and three others, Kazuo Sasaki, Yasuo Uchida and Masuo Onishi, to Senior Managing Director. In May 1978 he set up a President's Office with its own head, whom he made a Director the following July. In May 1976 he appointed Yukio Otsuki as head of the Production Division, and in December 1979 he created a head of the Purchasing Division. In July 1981 he handed the presidency to Suzuki.
Career
Career
Nippon Paint Holdings
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1975 | President |
| 1981 | Stepped down as President |