Kaichiro Nezu
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in 1913, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Tokyo Imperial University in March 1936 and joined Tobu Railway in 1940. As the second Kaichiro Nezu, succeeding the first President of that name, he became President in July 1941 and held the post until 1994. He also sat on the board of Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance and served as President of the affiliates Tobu Department Store and Tohoku Kyuko Bus. Rather than rising through hands-on railway work, he took over management the year after joining, backed by the founding family's capital.
Selection
He joined in 1940, became a Director in February that year and President in July 1941. The career employees on the same board list, Executive Vice President Shiro Hatanaka (joined 1932, Executive Vice President in 1959), Senior Managing Director Minoru Shibata (joined 1928, Senior Managing Director in 1964) and Managing Director Akira Tajima (joined 1935, Managing Director in 1961), had each needed 26 to 36 years to reach managing or senior managing director. It was an appointment by which the family inherited the management of the first Kaichiro Nezu, who had joined the company in 1905.
Initiatives
His tenure overlapped with postwar growth in transport and development along the lines. Instead of building its own track into central Tokyo, the company began through-service with the Teito Rapid Transit Authority's Hibiya Line in May 1962 and promoted housing development along the Isesaki Line. Retail was added at terminals, and in 1990 he decided to invest ¥90.0 billion in the expansion of the Ikebukuro store. Non-consolidated revenue grew 4.6 times from ¥16.7 billion in the fiscal year ended March 1963 to ¥76.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 1975.
Career
Career
Tobu Railway
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Feb 1940 | Director |
| Jul 1941 | President |
| Jan 1994 | Stepped down as President |
| Jun 1994 | Stepped down as President |