Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of Hitachi Ltd. (Photo: people.cn)
Tokyo (People's Daily)-The Japan Business Federation, Japan’s most influential business lobby more popularly known as Keidanren, chose Hitachi Ltd. Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi as its next leader on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Nakanishi, 71, will be formally appointed at Keidanren's general meeting on May 31. His term as head runs until 2022.
Keidanren is an economic group consisting of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its members include 135 companies and 156 economic organizations. The head of Keidanren is dubbed as“prime minister in the financial field.”
This will be the first time for a chairman from the major industrial machinery manufacturer to occupy Keidanren's top post. Nakanishi joined Hitachi in 1970 and helped the company get rid of huge losses as general manager.
Nakanishi has a good relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Nakanishi told the press that he hopes to enrich dialogue with politics, expressing his intention to strengthen cooperation with the Abe government. Many Japanese media are concerned about Nakanishi's close relationship with Abe, hoping the two will maintain a proper distance.
The current chief Sadayuki Sakakibara explained that Nakanishi was the most appropriate person to lead the federation, saying“he heads a company that represents Japan.” He also praised Nakanishi’s personality, high management skills and rich overseas experience.
(Compiled by Du Mingming)
