Mitsugi Yamaguchi
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined Kobe Steel in April 1981 and has never been on the payroll of another company. He became an Executive Officer 30 years later, in April 2011. He then climbed four rungs in six years: Managing Executive Officer in April 2013, Senior Managing Executive Officer in April 2015, Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer in June 2016, and Director and Executive Vice President in April 2017. He became President in his 37th year with the company.
Selection
In April 2018 he succeeded Hiroya Kawasaki as President. The company had posted consolidated net losses of ¥21.5 billion and ¥23.0 billion in FY ended March 2016 and FY ended March 2017, two straight years in the red. In FY ended March 2018, just before he took over, it had returned to net income of ¥63.1 billion. The change came right after the falsification of quality data came to light. He was promoted a year after becoming Director and Executive Vice President.
Initiatives
In his first year, FY ended March 2019, consolidated net sales were ¥1,971.8 billion and operating profit ¥48.3 billion. Operating profit fell to ¥9.9 billion with a net loss of ¥68.0 billion in FY ended March 2020, but the company returned to the black with net income of ¥23.2 billion in FY ended March 2021. In his final year, FY ended March 2024, net sales were ¥2,543.1 billion, operating profit ¥186.6 billion and net income ¥109.5 billion, all the highest of his six years. Consolidated employees numbered about 38,000 and barely changed throughout his tenure.
Career
Career
Kobe Steel
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1981 | Joined |
| Apr 2011 | Executive Officer |
| Apr 2013 | Managing Executive Officer |
| Apr 2015 | Senior Managing Executive Officer |
| Jun 2016 | Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer |
| Apr 2017 | Executive Vice President, Executive Officer |
| Apr 2018 | President |
| Apr 2024 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 神戸製鋼所 有価証券報告書【役員の状況】