Kenzo Yoneda
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1904, he graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo Imperial University in March 1928 and joined Kubota Iron Works that June. Eighteen years later, in June 1946, he became a Director, advancing to Senior Managing Director in December 1960. In December 1966, as Director and Executive Vice President, he headed both the Engineering and Sales Divisions, taking charge of technology and sales alike. His predecessor, Taizo Odawara, was also from Hiroshima Prefecture but was an administrator from a commercial school, whereas Yoneda was an engineer from an imperial university's engineering faculty.
Selection
He became President in December 1967. In the same month his predecessor, Taizo Odawara, moved to Chairman, and Tozo Kubota, Chairman since May 1950, stepped back to Director and Senior Advisor, reshuffling the management team. Odawara had also been chairman of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry since November 1960. Yoneda had become Director and Executive Vice President the previous December, heading both the Engineering and Sales Divisions, so the handover came after a year as Executive Vice President.
Initiatives
In May 1969 the company set up mass production of rice transplanters and binders, adding new farm machinery lines after power tillers and tractors. Net sales grew from ¥91.1 billion in the fiscal year ended April 1967, before he took office, to ¥208.9 billion in FY ended April 1971, 2.3 times in four years. Ordinary income also rose from ¥6.0 billion to ¥15.7 billion over the same period. In June 1971 he handed the presidency to Keitaro Hiro.
Career
Career
Kubota
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Director |
| 1960 | Senior Managing Director |
| 1967 | President |
| Jun 1971 | Stepped down as President |