Itsuro Watanabe
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in 1901, he graduated from Kobe Higher Commercial School in 1923. He joined Iwai Shoten in March 1938 and moved to Nippon Sheet Glass that September. He became general affairs manager in February 1945, a Director in May 1946, a Managing Director that December and a Senior Managing Director in December 1948, racing up the executive ranks in three postwar years. It was 24 years from joining to becoming President.
Selection
In May 1962 he succeeded Fumio Nakamura as President. Nakamura moved to Chairman that same month and remained a Representative Director until 1968. In the fiscal year before he took over, ended March 1962, non-consolidated net sales were ¥17.9 billion, up 35% in two years from ¥13.3 billion in FY ended March 1960. The post passed to a man who had been Senior Managing Director for 14 years.
Initiatives
During his six years and six months in office, the company opened the Chiba plant in 1964 and in 1965 installed Asia's first float glass manufacturing line at the Maizuru plant. Non-consolidated net sales rose 74%, from ¥17.9 billion in FY ended March 1962 to ¥31.2 billion in FY ended March 1968, his final year. In November 1968 he moved to Chairman, handing the presidency to Seihachiro Takimoto.
Career
Career
Iwai & Co.
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Mar 1938 | Joined |
Nippon Sheet Glass
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Sep 1938 | Joined |
| Feb 1945 | General Manager, General Affairs Department |
| May 1946 | Director |
| Dec 1946 | Managing Director |
| Dec 1948 | Senior Managing Director |
| May 1962 | President |
| Nov 1968 | Chairman |
| Nov 1968 | Stepped down as President |
| May 1971 | Director |