Sotoji Tanaka
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Sumitomo's mining business became Sumitomo Mining in June 1937 through the merger of Sumitomo Besshi Mining and Sumitomo Coal Mining, and was renamed Seika Mining in January 1946 following the zaibatsu dissolution. Seika Mining's metals division was then split off, launching Besshi Mining in March 1950. Sotoji Tanaka was president of Besshi Mining, in a position to manage the switch from the former Sumitomo Mining, with both coal and metals, to a company taking over only non-ferrous metals.
Selection
Besshi Mining was launched in March 1950, just after the zaibatsu dissolution split Sumitomo's mining business into coal and metals, and the first task was setting up a company that took over only copper mines and smelting. His successor Kenjiro Kawakami became a Managing Director at the launch in March 1950, a Senior Managing Director in May 1956 and President in May 1963. The management team from the launch remained in command for more than a decade.
Initiatives
He broadened a copper-mining company into a metals and materials company. It listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June 1950 and changed its name from Besshi Mining to Sumitomo Metal Mining in June 1952. In September 1956 it established the Hyuga smelter and began producing ferronickel, extending its smelting beyond copper. In April 1960 it founded Tokyo Denshi Kinzoku to manufacture electronics materials, and in April 1963 founded Siporex Seizo to enter the autoclaved lightweight concrete business.
Career
Career
Sumitomo Metal Mining
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1949 | Representative Director, President |
| 1962 | Stepped down as President |