Masahiro Inoue
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined SoftBank in January 1994 and took part as a Director in founding Yahoo Japan in January 1996. In June 1998 he also became a Director of the parent, SoftBank, holding positions at both the joint venture and the parent. A person sent from the SoftBank side to handle the practical work of founding the company also took over the presidency. For the following 16 years, until he stepped down, he consistently ran Yahoo Japan.
Selection
In July 1996, half a year after the founding, he succeeded Masayoshi Son as Representative Director and President. Son stepped back to Chairman that month, passing the presidency he had held as founder of the parent to a Director who had been there since the founding. In the fiscal year ended March 1998, his second year, revenue was ¥1.2 billion with 65 employees, and the company was still in its start-up phase.
Initiatives
In 1999 the company opened Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions in quick succession, and in 2001 it teamed up with its parent to enter broadband access with Yahoo! BB. Consolidated revenue grew from ¥31.4 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2002 to ¥302.0 billion in FY ended March 2012, when operating income was ¥165.0 billion and employees numbered 5,124. Over 16 years, with search and advertising at the core, the business diversified into retail and telecommunications.
Career
Career
SoftBank
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jan 1994 | Joined |
| Jun 1998 | Director |
| Jun 2001 | Director |
LY Corporation
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jan 1996 | Director |
| Jul 1996 | Representative Director, President |
| Jun 2012 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- ヤフー 有価証券報告書 第7期（2002年3月期）【役員の状況】