Eiji Watanuki
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined Taiyo Yuden in March 1971 and in October 1992 became General Manager of Tokyo Sales Department 2 in the Sales Headquarters' East Japan Sales Division. In April 2003 he became a Senior Operating Officer overseeing marketing in the sales group, and in July 2004 Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Marketing Headquarters. He became a Director in June 2006, also serving as Deputy General Manager of the Sales Headquarters from that July and head of the Composite Device Business from July 2007, and became Director and Managing Executive Officer in July 2010. Born on November 2, 1948, he rose to President 40 years after joining.
Selection
In June 2011 he succeeded Yoshiro Kanzaki as Representative Director and President. Kanzaki was a mid-career hire who had joined Taiyo Yuden in February 1993 from his post as deputy general manager of Hitachi's head office procurement department; he had been President since February 2006 and became Representative Director and Chairman at the handover. His background differed from that of Watanuki, who had spent 40 years inside the company since joining in March 1971. The fiscal year ended March 2011 brought a net loss of ¥5.5 billion, the third straight year of net losses since FY ended March 2009.
Initiatives
Judging that improving profitability would be difficult given a market contraction beyond expectations and soaring raw material prices, the company decided after the end of the fiscal year ended March 2015 to withdraw from the recording media business, announcing that sales would end at the end of December that year. In his first year, FY ended March 2012, sales were ¥183.7 billion, with an operating loss of ¥8.0 billion and a net loss of ¥21.5 billion. The company returned to profit with operating income of ¥4.8 billion in FY ended March 2013, and in FY ended March 2015, his final year, reached sales of ¥227.0 billion, operating income of ¥13.2 billion and net income of ¥10.9 billion.
Career
Career
Taiyo Yuden
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Mar 1971 | Joined |
| Oct 1992 | Sales Headquarters, General Manager, Tokyo 2 Sales Department, Eastern Japan Sales Division |
| Apr 2003 | Senior Operations, Officer, Sales, Group Head of Marketing |
| Jul 2004 | Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Headquarters, Marketing Headquarters |
| Jun 2006 | Director and Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Headquarters, Marketing Headquarters |
| Jul 2006 | Director and Senior Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Headquarters, Sales Headquarters |
| Jul 2007 | Director and General Manager, Composite Devices Business Headquarters |
| Jul 2010 | Director, Managing Executive Officer, in charge of Composite Devices Business and General Manager, Composite Devices Business Headquarters |
| Jun 2011 | Representative Director, President |
| Nov 2015 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 太陽誘電 有価証券報告書【役員の状況】