Kokichi Takahashi
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He graduated from the Faculty of Science of Osaka Imperial University in March 1938 and joined Kobe Steel that April. He became manager of the Chofu North plant in November 1960 and, from running a plant, joined the board in November 1966. He became a Managing Director in November 1970 and a Senior Managing Director in November 1972, reaching the presidency 39 years after joining. A science graduate was unusual among the company's presidents: his predecessor Hideo Sugisawa had graduated from Kyoto Imperial University's engineering faculty, and Hiroaki Suzuki before him from its law faculty.
Selection
In October 1977, when Hideo Sugisawa moved to Chairman, he rose from Senior Managing Director to President. The presidency changed hands three times in three years: November 1974, September 1976 and October 1977. Kobe Steel's non-consolidated net income fell from ¥11.3 billion in FY ended March 1977 to ¥7.0 billion in his first year, FY ended March 1978, when ordinary profit was ¥5.9 billion. The officer listings as of June 1978 show seven Senior Managing Directors, and an engineer who had run plants was chosen from among them.
Initiatives
After the oil crisis, steel demand dwindled and steelmakers sought growth outside their core business. At Kobe Steel, engineering accounted for more than 10% of total sales by fiscal 1980. In June 1979 the company established Kobe Environmental Analysis Center, later Kobelco Research Institute. Non-consolidated net sales grew from ¥896.7 billion in FY ended March 1977, the year before he took office, to ¥1,182.1 billion in FY ended March 1983, his final year, with net income of ¥11.9 billion.
Career
Career
Kobe Steel
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Joined |
| 1960 | 長府北工場長 (translation pending) |
| 1965 | General Manager, Third Steel Sales Department |
| 1966 | Director and General Manager, Kobe Plant |
| 1969 | 溶接棒事業部長 (translation pending) |
| 1970 | Managing Director |
| 1972 | Senior Managing Director |
| Sep 1977 | Executive Vice President |
| Oct 1977 | President |
| Jun 1983 | Stepped down as President |