Katsuji Yamada
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Nagasaki Prefecture in 1915, he graduated from Nagasaki Higher Commercial School in March 1936 and joined Toyo Toki that same month. He became a Director in January 1959 and a Managing Director in January 1961. Twelve years then passed before he became a Senior Managing Director in January 1973, followed by Executive Vice President in January 1975. Whereas Hayato Kurokawa, who became a Managing Director in January 1959, advanced to Senior Managing Director in January 1963, Yamada remained a Managing Director for 12 years. It was 43 years from joining to becoming President.
Selection
In February 1979 he succeeded Hayato Kurokawa as President, with Kurokawa moving to Chairman. He was promoted four years after becoming Executive Vice President. In the fiscal year before he took over, ended November 1978, net sales were ¥106.3 billion and ordinary profit ¥10.7 billion, the first year sales topped ¥100 billion. Capital spending, held back since the first oil crisis, fully resumed in 1980, the year after he took office.
Initiatives
Capital spending fully resumed in 1980, funding construction of the Chiba distribution center and expanded sanitary ware capacity at the Shiga and Nakatsu plants. That June the company launched the Washlet bidet toilet seat and that autumn the Yupro water heater, pushing toward a full line of housing equipment with water use as the common thread. Net sales rose to ¥142.2 billion and ordinary profit to ¥15.5 billion in FY ended November 1980, but fell to ¥134.5 billion and ¥12.3 billion in FY ended November 1981 as housing starts declined.
Career
Career
TOTO
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Mar 1936 | Joined |
| Jan 1959 | Director |
| Jan 1961 | Managing Director |
| Jan 1973 | Senior Managing Director |
| Jan 1975 | Executive Vice President |
| Feb 1979 | President |