Koichi Okuma
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 1915, he graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Imperial University in 1940 and joined Okuma Iron Works that April. An engineer who also lectured on the machinery industry at his alma mater, the University of Tokyo, he was seen inside the company as a quiet, scholarly type. A member of the founding family, he was listed among the major shareholders at the end of September 1955 as an individual in fourth place, with Takeo Okuma second after Tokai Bank. After becoming President he also served as president of Toyo Kumiami Kogyo (now Nitto Seimo) and Asahi Seiki Manufacturing.
Selection
Four years after joining, in October 1944, he became a Director, then Executive Vice President in February 1946, and at 33 became Representative Director and President in August 1948. Compared with other insiders who served as executives at the time, Katsumi Muraoka took 14 years from joining in 1937 to reach the board, Shinkichi Nagaoka 18 years from 1939 and Masao Hyodo 32 years from 1928, making Koichi's eight years strikingly short. The company had been renamed Okuma Kogyo in October 1945 and was on the way to restoring its former name in 1951. His appointment appears to have reflected his membership in the founding family.
Initiatives
In 1961 he built a technical research institute to strengthen R&D, and in 1963 the company succeeded in developing its own OSP numerical control unit, establishing a structure in which one company designed both the machines and their controls. Peripheral divisions were carved out: the noodle machine division went to Okuma Kikai in October 1951, Asahi Okuma Kogyo (now Asahi Seiki Manufacturing) was established in August 1953, and the casting division was split off as Okuma Chuzo in October 1955. Falling orders after the oil crisis led to continuing losses, with accumulated losses reaching ¥3.62 billion in FY ended September 1977, and in February 1978 he stepped down as President after 30 years.
Career
Career
Okuma Iron Works
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Joined |
| 1944 | Director |
| Aug 1948 | President |
| Feb 1978 | Stepped down as President |
| Feb 1978 | Stepped down as President |
References 2
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 日本企業要覧 1968年版
- 日経ビジネス 1980年4月21日号「大隈鉄工所 再建へ社長の砕身が『全員一丸』を喚起」