Kaoru Iue
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
In December 1949 he resigned as Managing Director and head of manufacturing at Matsushita Electric Industrial and joined Sanyo Electric Works, founded by his elder brother Toshio Iue. He became Director and head of materials when the company was incorporated in April 1950, Managing Director in July 1953, Senior Managing Director in July 1961 and Executive Vice President in January 1968. At both Matsushita and Sanyo he handled manufacturing and materials, rising to management from the factory side. His role was distinct from that of his second brother Yuro Iue, who came up through personnel and general affairs.
Selection
In January 1971 his brother Yuro Iue, then President, withdrew to Chairman, and Kaoru rose from Executive Vice President to President. The same month Seiichi Goto and Saburo Kato became Executive Vice Presidents alongside him. Goto had been the head of manufacturing since the founding, having moved in 1947 from his post as head of lamp manufacturing at Matsushita Electric Industrial, while Kato came from finance, having moved in 1964 from Managing Director at Sumitomo Bank, forming a line-up in which manufacturing and finance supported the President. The change appears to have put in place the member of the three founding brothers closest to manufacturing.
Initiatives
Asked by its largest customer, Sears of the US, to rebuild their joint venture Warwick, the company established Sanyo Manufacturing Corporation in September 1976, acquired Warwick for about ¥3.1 billion and began local production of color TVs in Arkansas. Output reached 960,000 units a year in 1980, the largest North American local production by a Japanese company. In February 1982 it acquired Philips's TV plant in the UK. At home, from the late 1970s it expanded its product range into air conditioning, kitchen appliances and audio equipment.
Career
Career
Matsushita Electric Industrial
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Dec 1949 | Resigned as Managing Director, General Manager, Manufacturing Department |
Sanyo Electric
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Dec 1949 | Joined Sanyo Electric Works |
| Apr 1950 | Director, General Manager, Materials Department |
| Jul 1953 | Managing Director |
| Jul 1961 | Senior Managing Director |
| Jan 1968 | Executive Vice President |
| Jan 1971 | President |