Tokuo Kubo
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
In November 1963 he established Tokyo Electron Laboratories. In its first year the office was a space of about 33 square meters inside the Tokyo Broadcasting System main building, and the ¥40 million for its first IC tester was paid with a bank loan guaranteed by Tokyo Broadcasting System. In October 1963 the company beat out general trading companies to sign a sole agency agreement with Fairchild, and Tokuo Kubo flew to Silicon Valley to sign it.
Selection
In the fiscal year ended September 1974, the export division, which accounted for 60% of sales, swung to a loss of about ¥300 million. Ordinary income fell from ¥330 million the previous year to ¥200 million, and the company newsletter reported that the export division's loss was the cause. Profit was supported by about ¥500 million from the import division. One Managing Director who most strongly opposed a complete withdrawal from consumer goods exports resigned, and two others also left for reasons such as going independent. Immediately afterward, in November 1974, a new leadership of President Tokuo Kubo and Senior Managing Director Toshio Kotaka was launched.
Initiatives
The company withdrew from consumer goods exports in stages, ending export sales of calculators in September 1976 and of car stereos and transceivers in September 1978. Exports fell from ¥9.0 billion in the fiscal year ended September 1977 to zero in the FY ended September 1979. The withdrawal reflected the view that in a rapidly expanding market, the company could not gain an edge without a large sales network and capital. In October 1978 it changed its name to Tokyo Electron Limited, and in June 1980 listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In fiscal 1980 it took the top position with about 25% of Japan's roughly ¥100 billion market for semiconductor production equipment.
Career
Career
Nissho
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1956 | Joined |
Tokyo Electron
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Nov 1963 | Founded Tokyo Electron |
| Nov 1974 | President |
| Dec 1980 | Chairman |
| Dec 1980 | Stepped down as President |
| Dec 1984 | Senior Advisor |
| Oct 1986 | Representative Director, Chairman |
| Dec 1990 | Director, Senior Advisor |
| Jun 1996 | Senior Advisor |