Chiaki Obata
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Hyogo in 1911, he graduated from Kobe University of Commerce in March 1935 and joined Nippon Paint in December 1937. He became Director and general manager of General Affairs in February 1944, additionally head of the Osaka branch in October 1945, Managing Director in February 1946, and Senior Managing Director in December 1952. He remained head of General Affairs until September 1955, then became head of headquarters operations and, from May 1963, was in charge of sales and purchasing, covering everything from administration to sales.
Selection
In June 1965 he became President as Katsuji Chikuta moved to Chairman. He had joined in 1937, 19 years after Chikuta. Shigeru Tada, who became Executive Vice President the same day, was born in 1901, joined after graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto Imperial University in 1925, and had handled technology and production as head of the Tokyo branch; he was ten years Obata's senior. The presidency went to Obata, who had long combined the posts of head of General Affairs and head of the Osaka branch and controlled headquarters administration.
Initiatives
During his tenure the organization was restructured into a divisional system. The officers' career histories list a head of the Planning and Research Office in July 1966, a head of the Overseas Business Department in 1969, a deputy head of the Production Division in April 1970, and heads of the Sales Division and the R&D Division that November. A head of NAPP Development was appointed in October 1970 and of the Chemical Engineering Division in May 1971, and in July 1972 an officer was sent to NAPP STEMS in the U.S. In July 1975 he moved to Chairman and handed the presidency to Ryutaro Nakajima.
Career
Career
Nippon Paint Holdings
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1965 | President |
| 1975 | Stepped down as President |