Katsuji Kawamata
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined the Industrial Bank of Japan in 1929 and in July 1947 was sent to Nissan Heavy Industries as Managing Director in charge of accounting. He became Senior Managing Director the following year, 1948, and President in November 1957. The tie to the bank remained on the capital side too: as of March 1961 the Industrial Bank of Japan was the second-largest shareholder with 5.3%. For a company that kept investing in plant and equipment, the ability to raise funds itself had become a qualification for President.
Selection
In November 1957 he succeeded Genshichi Asahara as President. In the fiscal year ended March 1957, the year before, net sales were ¥30.9 billion and pre-tax income ¥2.6 billion; most of the requisitioned plants had been released in 1955 and production had just gotten on track. It was also a time when the technology accumulated through the alliance with Britain's Austin was turning toward in-house development, and the company believed it needed a plant capable of large-volume, concentrated production to prepare for trade liberalization. Command of that investment was entrusted to the accounting executive who had come from the bank.
Initiatives
Construction of the Oppama plant began in April 1961, with full operation from March 1962. Passenger car production, split between the Bluebird at the Yoshiwara plant and the Cedric at the Tsurumi plant, was consolidated there, and in April 1964 the company built 10,413 Bluebirds, becoming the first in Japan to establish monthly production of 10,000 units of a single model. In August 1966 it absorbed Prince Motor Company, bringing capital to ¥39.8 billion and employees to about 31,600. Exports reached 72,000 units in fiscal 1964, more than half of Japan's total vehicle exports. Net sales grew from ¥30.9 billion to ¥1,176.4 billion over his 16 years in office.
Career
Career
Industrial Bank of Japan
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1929 | Joined |
Nissan Motor
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Jul 1947 | Managing Director |
| 1948 | Senior Managing Director |
| Nov 1957 | President |
| 1973 | Chairman |
| Nov 1973 | Stepped down as President |