Pentax 2011 Annual Report Download - page 60

Dynamic Board of Directors Symbolic of Hoya's
Energetic Corporate Culture
Y
uzaburo Mogi
Outside Director and Chairman of the Nomination Committee
(Honorary Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Kikkoman
Corporation)
I began serving as an outside director for Hoya Corporation in 2001. I was aware of Hoya and its
products prior to that, but I remember when I was appointed listening to a presentation on the
company and thinking it to be truly exceptional. Hoya is characterized by its outstanding profit
margins. This means none other than Hoya’s strategy of concentrating resources in areas where
it excels and capturing large market is a successful strategy. At the time, this was quite a
discovery for me.
I also remember thinking that the atmosphere surrounding the Board of Directors was cheerful
and optimistic.
Hoya board meetings start at 9:00 in the morning and sometimes run until around 1:00 in the
afternoon. Although the meetings can be long, serious discussion and debate always takes
place throughout. The meetings are very dynamic and conducted in an atmosphere that is never
brutal, but always cheerful. When an important agenda such as an M&A is discussed, the
opinions of directors often clash, but the same convivial atmosphere prevails.
Hoya's executive officers work quite hard so that they represent this kind of corporate culture.
For corporate management to function the people at the top must work hard. I think Hoya is a
company that lives by this ironclad rule.
Globalization remains a major issue not only for Hoya but for Japanese companies in general. In
Hoya's case, from CEO Suzuki on down, executive officers have extensive experience overseas,
global perspective and a firm grasp of international business. In fact, Hoya was among the first in
Japan to deliberately expand overseas, and has established a large number of business
strongholds outside Japan. I have a lot to look forward to because expansion in Hoya’s global
operations can only accelerate.
I’m also attracted in particular to Hoya’s Life Care segment which includes products related to
eye care and medical care. Businesses promoting health will no doubt experience major growth
globally, including in emerging markets, and so I expect will Hoya’s Life Care segment going
forward. Medical businesses are involved in none other than human life, and technological
capability is extremely important. On this point, Hoya has proprietary technologies and it
continues to refine them.
Our expected role as outside directors is to monitor the proper management conduct of
executive officers from a perspective that differs from the internal management team. For this
reason I feel it’s important to ask tough questions at board meetings without reservation.
I sense even from a long-term perspective that Hoya is a company with a great future. I sincerely
ask that shareholders also take a long-term view in their guidance and support of Hoya.
Yuzaburo Mogi
Outside Director and Chairman of the Nomination Committee
HOYA Annual Re
p
ort 2011