Naomichi Kusunoki
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in Oita Prefecture in 1900, he graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Engineering in March 1924 and joined Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyard that April. He moved to Tokyo Automobile Industries in August 1937, becoming a Director in May 1943 and Senior Managing Director in December 1946. After 15 years as Senior Managing Director, he became President in January 1962. He was a technical career man who had spent his whole career in the automobile division after an engineering degree.
Selection
His predecessor was Goro Sannomiya. Fifteen years passed between his becoming Senior Managing Director in December 1946 and becoming President, during which Eikichi Ohashi became Managing Director in December 1952. In the fiscal year ended April 1961, the year before he took office, net sales were ¥60.0 billion, having grown 2.8 times in four years from ¥21.3 billion in FY ended April 1957. The change appears to have entrusted rapidly growing production and sales to a technical Senior Managing Director who had been in the automobile division since its founding.
Initiatives
The Fujisawa plant began operations in January 1962, the month he took office. Net sales grew from ¥83.4 billion in the fiscal year ended April 1962 to ¥112.9 billion in FY ended April 1965. Net income, on the other hand, was ¥4.1 billion in FY ended April 1965 against ¥5.2 billion in FY ended April 1964, falling even as sales rose. In June 1965 he moved to Chairman and handed the presidency to Eikichi Ohashi.
Career
Career
Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1924 | Joined as Automotive Plant |
Isuzu Motors
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Aug 1937 | Moved to Tokyo Motor Industries |
| May 1943 | Director |
| Dec 1946 | Senior Managing Director |
| Jan 1962 | President |
| 1964 | Stepped down as President |