Genichi Hirata
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1913, he graduated from Yamaguchi Higher Commercial School in 1934 and joined Nippon Sewing Machine Manufacturing (now Brother Industries) in January 1943. He became General Manager of the Labor Department in May 1946 and a Director the following month, reaching the board three years and five months after joining. He moved from labor relations into the core of management, becoming Managing Director in July 1962 and Director and Executive Vice President in January 1975.
Selection
In February 1979, as Jitsuichi Yasui became Chairman, he became President, the first president from outside the founding family in the 45 years since the company's establishment in 1934. At the same time Nobuyuki Yasui was promoted to Senior Managing Director and Yoshihiro Yasui to Managing Director, so it appears the career insider who had been Executive Vice President was holding the post until the founding family's next generation matured.
Initiatives
His tenure lasted only two years. In April 1979 the company began producing computerized home sewing machines, bringing electronic control to the home sewing machine it had first produced domestically in 1932. In February 1981 he handed the presidency to Katsuji Kawashima and moved to corporate auditor. Going to the auditor post without becoming chairman set him apart from his two predecessors, who stayed on as chairman.
Career
Career
Brother Industries
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jan 1943 | Joined |
| May 1946 | General Manager, Labor Relations Department |
| Jun 1946 | Director |
| Jul 1962 | Managing Director |
| Jan 1975 | Executive Vice President |
| Feb 1979 | President |
| Feb 1981 | Stepped down as President |
| Feb 1981 | Audit & Supervisory Board Member |