Japan Airlines' New CEO Is A Buddhist Priest Who'll Work For Free
Last Monday we told you that debt-ridden Japan Airlines would be declaring bankruptcy, throwing the airline industry into disarray. By this time tomorrow that should be a done deal. People are already looking ahead to what a post-bankruptcy JAL will look like, up to and including the nitty-gritty of who'll be in charge of what. And, after a predictably brutal stock plunge, the airline's CEO is preparing to resign and his replacement has already been chosen.
The new CEO—having been duly selected with input from the government and the turnaround body—will be 77-year-old Japanese tycoon Kazuo Inamori. He is by all accounts a brilliant businessperson. He founded Kyocera Corp and rose to become Japan's 28th richest man. He is an ordained Buddhist priest with an iron will. His reputation for turning companies around is legendary.
Those are the good, confidence-inspiring parts. The more interesting parts have to do with Inamori's early public statements, where he said that he's too old to work full time and that he doesn't know anything about the airline industry. Seriously. He said both of those things:
Kyocera was founded in 1959 as a ceramics company, and has grown into one of Japan's most profitable technology firms. 'I don't know anything about the transportation industry, but I would like to make my best contribution,' Inamori told reporters, adding that he did not plan to take a salary. 'I am old and a full-time job is hard for me, so I would like to work three or four days a week and I will work for free.'
At least the airline industry isn't notoriously one of the most fast-paced and challenging industries on the planet. At least it doesn't take years to even begin to understand the competitive structures and dynamics. If that was the case then Inamori's lack of experience would be a problem, to say nothing of how he'll be spending only three or four days a week catching up. Yes, we're being sarcastic here.
On the plus side he promises to work for free, so there's that.
[Photo: Cassiopeia_sweet / Wiki Commons]
Related Stories:
· Buddhist priest to head Japan Airlines - and without salary [Times Live]
· Japan Airlines [Jaunted]
· Airline Industry Coverage [Jaunted]
Comments (0)
Post a CommentReturn to » Japan Airlines' New CEO Is A Buddhist Priest Who'll Work For Free
Join the conversation!