Shigematsu Tanaka
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He graduated from Osaka Higher Technical School in 1918, joined Mitsui & Co. and worked in its shipbuilding department. He moved to Mitsui Shipbuilding when it was established in July 1937, becoming a Director in May 1946, Managing Director that December and Senior Managing Director in May 1947. He served as head of the Tamano Works and the Tamano Shipyard, rising to the board from the production floor. He became Executive Vice President in May 1958 and spent two years under Goichi Kato.
Selection
In May 1960 he became President after Goichi Kato became Chairman. Mitsui Shipbuilding's officers had all come from Mitsui & Co.'s shipbuilding department, but it was Tanaka who had run the Tamano works and shipyard, and he was promoted after 13 years as Senior Managing Director and Executive Vice President. Tamao Omae, who also became a director in 1946, remained Senior Managing Director, while Teiji Asano and Sanroku Takato stayed at Managing Director. The change passed leadership from a trading-house law graduate to an engineer who had run shipyards.
Initiatives
Over his ten years in office he expanded production to three bases. The Chiba Works began operations in May 1962, the company merged with Nihon Kaihatsuki Seizo that October, and it took a management stake in Shikoku Dock in March 1964. In October 1967 it absorbed Fujinagata Shipyard, with which it had formed a business alliance in March 1965, adding two works on Osaka Bay. In June 1968 a 500,000-deadweight-ton building dock was completed at the Chiba Shipyard. Non-consolidated net sales grew 5.4 times, from ¥21.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 1960 to ¥117.9 billion in FY ended March 1970.
Career
Career
Mitsui E&S
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jan 1942 | Moved to Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding |
| May 1946 | Director |
| Nov 1946 | Managing Director |
| May 1947 | Senior Managing Director |
| May 1958 | Executive Vice President |
| May 1960 | President |
| May 1970 | Director, Senior Advisor |
| May 1970 | Stepped down as President |
| May 1972 | Senior Advisor |