Pentax 2012 Annual Report Download - page 43

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bring in capable people from also outside the company and how to develop
exceptional people for the next generation of HOYA's growth.
I believe that the role of corporate executives is to advance the organization and
maximize corporate value. As an outside director, I intend to contribute to the
further growth of HOYA with the same aspiration.
I would ask shareholders to also continue closely tracking HOYA's growth going
forward.
July 2012
Outside Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee
Eiko Kono
Outside Director, Chairman of the Nomination Committee, member of
Compensation Committee and member of Audit Committee
Yuzaburo Mogi (Honorary CEO, Chairman of the Board of
Kikkoman Corporation)
Dynamic Board of Directors Symbolic of HOYA's
Energetic Corporate Culture
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