Shizuma Matsuo
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He came from aviation administration: after graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Kyushu University's Faculty of Engineering in 1928, he became head of the aviation safety department of the Radio Bureau of the Ministry of Communications in December 1945 and Director-General of the Civil Aviation Agency in December 1950. He moved to the private sector as Senior Managing Director of the former Japan Airlines in August 1951, and at the new Japan Airlines served as Senior Managing Director from October 1953, Managing Director from September 1955 and Executive Vice President from May 1957.
Selection
The first President was Seijiro Yanagita, brought in from the post of Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan. The 1960 edition of a Japanese corporate directory lists Yanagita as President and Shizuma Matsuo as Executive Vice President, and from the 1963 edition lists Matsuo as Representative Director and President. The company had begun flying its first jet airliner, the DC-8, in August 1960 and had just listed on the stock exchange in October 1961. As of April 1961 the largest shareholder was the Minister of Finance with 59.6%, making it a company whose capital was majority-held by the state. The change placed a technical expert capable of handling fleet renewal and route planning after a first President from finance.
Initiatives
In January 1965 the company began selling JALPAK tours, and in March 1967 it opened a westbound round-the-world route. At a board meeting on June 16, 1966, it formally decided to purchase the 490-seat Boeing 747, which entered service in July 1970. It was a capital investment that met rising demand with more seats per aircraft rather than more flights. Revenue grew from ¥52.5 billion in the fiscal year ended March 1966 to ¥163.4 billion in the FY ended March 1971.
Career
Career
Board of Communications Airlines Agency
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Dec 1945 | 逓信院電波局航空保安部長 (translation pending) |
| Dec 1950 | Commissioner, Agency for Airlines |
Japan Airlines
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Aug 1951 | Senior Managing Director |
Japan Airlines
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Oct 1953 | Senior Managing Director |
| Sep 1955 | Managing Director |
| May 1957 | Executive Vice President |
| 1961 | President |
| May 1971 | Chairman |