YKK has appointed Executive Vice President Hiroaki Otani as its next president.
TOKYO -- YKK announced that Executive Vice President Hiroaki Otani will become president April 1. He will take the helm of the world's leading zipper maker just as it embarks on a new four-year business plan.
Otani, 57, joined YKK in 1982 after graduating from Kobe's Konan University with a degree in economics. The Hyogo Prefecture native was promoted to executive vice president in 2014.
Having transferred to the Hong Kong office in his third year at Tokyo-based YKK, Otani contributed to the company's efforts to bolster its Chinese operations for many years. He has been leading the fastener business group since returning to Japan.
With his wealth of experience dealing with Chinese businesses, Otani's presidency likely will enable YKK to boost its presence in the Asian market for commodity-grade fasteners. The company already has a solid position in the high-performance-fastener segment, but has not been as successful in more mass-market fasteners, such as those used widely in Asia for bags and clothing.
Otani will be only the second YKK president to come from outside the privately owned company's founding family. Chairman and CEO Tadahiro Yoshida, a member of the founding clan, will retain his current posts. Yoshida, now 69, vacated his position as president in 2011, having instituted a retirement age of 65 for operating officers.
On April 1, President Masayuki Sarumaru, 65, will become representative vice chairman. In his new role, he will oversee the fastener business.
Source: Nikkei