Motoharu Kurata
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He graduated from Tokyo Higher Technical School in March 1925 and joined Asahi Glass, and in December 1945 served as manager of Mitsubishi Chemical Industries' Amagasaki plant. He became a Managing Director in June 1950, took charge of administration, technology and accounting from March 1959, and of the glass and furnace-materials businesses from April 1961. A ceramics engineer who rose through plants and manufacturing, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in November 1962.
Selection
He became Executive Vice President in August 1963 and succeeded Kanichi Morimoto as President in August 1967, with Morimoto moving to Chairman that same month. During his four years as Executive Vice President he also served as president of Iwaki Glass (from September 1965) and Asahi Fiber Glass (from February 1967), in a role overseeing affiliated companies. The Managing Directors of the time included Masao Murakami, who had joined in 1932, so Kurata, who joined in 1925, stood at the head of the senior executives' generation.
Initiatives
Over roughly six years in office he added production sites at home and abroad. He opened the Aichi plant in 1970 and the Sagami works in 1972, and in 1972 also established PT Asahimas Flat Glass in Indonesia. Non-consolidated net sales grew from ¥137.4 billion in FY ended December 1970 to ¥163.8 billion in FY ended December 1972. In February 1973 he handed the presidency to Hideaki Yamashita and became Chairman.
Career
Career
Asahi Glass
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1925 | Joined |
| 1963 | Executive Vice President |
| Aug 1967 | President |
| Feb 1973 | Chairman |
| Feb 1973 | Stepped down as President |