Kazuhira Seki
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He was born in Tokyo in February 1937. He graduated from Waseda University's First Faculty of Law in March 1960 and joined Isuzu Motors that April. Assigned to sales, in 1962, when the Fujisawa plant began operations and entered small vehicle production, he proposed as a rank-and-file employee in his third year a system in which the head office would build sales outlets and lease them to dealers. Overriding objections from those around him, he persuaded the Managing Director in charge of sales, and over the next two years 30 outlets were built nationwide. In 1973 he moved to a senior staff post in the Planning Headquarters and thereafter came up through planning.
Selection
In January 1992 he succeeded Kazuo Tobiyama as President, promoted after becoming a Director in January 1984 and serving as Managing Director, Senior Managing Director and Executive Vice President. At the time Isuzu Motors could not escape sluggish results and was trying to rebuild with the backing of its largest shareholder, General Motors (GM) of the U.S., which held 37.52% of its shares. Seki had long been in the Planning Headquarters and had served as Tobiyama's chief strategist, which is why he was seen early on as the leading candidate for the next president. Between the decision on his appointment and actually taking office, he set up opportunities to exchange views with about 700 people, mainly department and section managers.
Initiatives
What he decided right after taking office was to withdraw from in-house passenger car production and development, which the company had pursued for 40 years. The three-year mid-term plan of December 19, 1992 put an end to passenger car production and concentrated management resources on three fields: trucks, RVs and diesel engines. Seki personally persuaded GM's President and CEO John Smith, as GM was also a customer for its passenger cars. At home, dealers were merged in ten regions; in May 1994 the company absorbed its affiliate Shatai Kogyo, and in November sold its stake in the subsidiary Aites to NHK Spring, advancing the restructuring of keiretsu parts suppliers on the capital side.
Career
Career
Isuzu Motors
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1960 | Joined |
| 1973 | Planning Headquarters, Chief Examiner |
| Jan 1984 | Director |
| Jan 1992 | President |
| Jun 1998 | Stepped down as President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 日経ビジネス 1992年2月24日号「関和平氏［いすゞ自動車］登場 再建めざし絞り込みの思考」