Keitaro Hiro
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1908, he graduated from Ritsumeikan University in March 1936. From 1938 he taught at Chugai Commercial School and Okura Commercial School, and in January 1943, at age 35, he joined Kubota Iron Works. Eight years after this mid-career entry he became a Director in November 1951, Managing Director in June 1953, and in December 1960, as Senior Managing Director, took charge of the Production and Administration Divisions.
Selection
He became Representative Director and President in June 1971. He and his predecessor, Kenzo Yoneda, had both become Senior Managing Directors in the same month, December 1960, and even after Yoneda rose to Director and Executive Vice President in December 1966, Hiro remained Senior Managing Director for more than ten years in all. An administrator who had switched from teaching as a mid-career hire in 1943 succeeded an engineer who had graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo Imperial University.
Initiatives
In October 1971, four months after taking office, he reorganized the company around business divisions for internal combustion engines, pipes, machinery, environmental equipment and housing, and in December that year added four people including the Executive Vice President as Representative Directors. The company set up Kubota Tractor Corp. in the U.S. in September 1972 and a European tractor sales company in March 1974, expanding tractor exports to Europe and North America. In November 1976 it listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Net sales grew from ¥208.9 billion in the fiscal year ended April 1971 to ¥536.2 billion in FY ended April 1982.
Career
Career
Kubota Iron Works
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jan 1943 | Joined |
| Feb 1950 | General Manager, Finance Department |
| Nov 1951 | Director |
| Jun 1953 | Managing Director |
| Dec 1960 | Senior Managing Director |
| Aug 1968 | Senior Managing Director and General Manager, Planning Headquarters |
| Jun 1971 | Representative Director, President |
| Jul 1982 | Stepped down as President |