Akira Sagawa
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Akira Sagawa was born in Hyogo in 1914, graduated from Tokyo University of Commerce in March 1940 and joined ITOCHU that April. After serving as a section manager in the Machinery Department, he was seconded to Yokoyama Kogyo in May 1956, then returned to ITOCHU and served as counselor of the Machinery Department and head of the First Machinery Division. In April 1965 he became an advisor to Kurita Water Industries, and the following month became Senior Managing Director, heading the Business Division and the Chemicals Division. Like Shinzo Kaiishi, he came from ITOCHU, and the two also shared a Hyogo birthplace.
Selection
In October 1977 he succeeded Shinzo Kaiishi as President. Kaiishi moved to Chairman that month, retaining his representative authority. Sagawa had become Director and Executive Vice President in April 1966, taken on the Finance Division in April 1967, become Senior Managing Director that December and again Director and Executive Vice President in June 1976, so his promotion came after supporting the Kaiishi regime for ten years as Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Director. In the fiscal year ended March 1977, the year before he took office, net sales were ¥40.404 billion and ordinary income ¥2.201 billion.
Initiatives
Net sales grew to ¥46.311 billion in the fiscal year ended March 1978, the year after he took office, but fell to ¥44.849 billion in FY ended March 1979, while ordinary income halved from ¥2.201 billion to ¥1.085 billion. Sales recovered to ¥47.910 billion in FY ended March 1980 and ¥57.081 billion in FY ended March 1981. Among the executives, Kiyoyuki Horio, from ITOCHU, handled sales; Yoshihiro Wada, also from ITOCHU, handled overseas operations; and Yoshikazu Hirose oversaw technology as head of the Development Division. He stepped down as president in September 1981.
Career
Career
Kurita Water Industries
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Oct 1977 | President |
| Sep 1981 | Stepped down as President |