Masaharu Matsushita

Masaharu Matsushita
松下正治
Born September 17, 1912
Tokyo, Empire of Japan
Died July 16, 2012 (aged 99)
Osaka, Japan
Occupation Businessman

Masaharu Matsushita (松下 正治 Matsushita Masaharu, September 17, 1912 – July 16, 2012), was a Japanese businessman who served as the second President of Panasonic for sixteen years beginning in 1961.[1][2] He was the son-in-law of Panasonic's founder, Konosuke Matsushita.[1] Masaharu Matsushita has been credited with expanding Panasonic into a global brand during a time of high economic expansion in Japan.[2]

Biography

Matsushita was born Masaharu Hirata.[1] He was the son of a painter.[1] He originally studied law at the present-day University of Tokyo.[1] Matsushita worked as a banker before joining Panasonic.[1][3] In April 1940, he married Sachiko Matsushita, the daughter of Panasonic's founder, and was adopted into her family, taking their surname.[1][3][4] He began working for his father-in-law the following month.[3]

Masaharu Matsushita is credited with turning Panasonic into a global electronics brand.[1] He succeeded his father-in-law as President of Panasonic in 1961 as the company's second president.[1] Under him, Panasonic retained its management philosophy, which emphasized team work and promoted the idea that bosses were equal to their employees.[2] High ranking management performed more tasks with their employees, such as cleaning bathrooms.[1] Panasonic's company philosophy has been admired and copied within the Japanese business world.[1] Masaharu Matsushita held the presidency of Panasonic for sixteen years, during a period of worldwide growth for Japan.[1][2] Toshihiko Yamashita took over the presidency in 1977.[5] He was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1984, and was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1997.

Masaharu Matsushita died at Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Osaka, a hospital founded by his father-in-law, on July 16, 2012, at the age of 99.[1] He was survived by his wife, Sachiko, and their son, Panasonic Vice Chairman Masayuki Matsushita, who is the only member of the Matsushita family still on the company's board of directors.[1][2]

Panasonic Chairman Fumio Ohtsubo said of Matsushita, "I honor from the bottom of my heart his achievements in steering our company toward momentous growth."[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Kageyama, Yuri (2012-07-17). "Former Panasonic president Matsushita dies at 99". Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Westflake, Adam (2012-07-17). "Panasonic’s influential former president, chairman Matsushita dies at 99". Japan Daily Press. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kotter, John P. (1997). Matsushita Leadership: Lessons from the 20th Century's Most Remarkable Entrepreneur. Simon and Schuster. p. 1932. ISBN 9780684834603. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  4. ↑ Hidemasa Morikawa, ed. (2001). A History of Top Management in Japan: Managerial Enterprises and Family Enterprises. Oxford University Press. p. 147. ISBN 9780195131659. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  5. ↑ Hidemasa Morikawa, ed. (2001). A History of Top Management in Japan: Managerial Enterprises and Family Enterprises. Oxford University Press. p. 149. ISBN 9780195131659. Retrieved 2012-07-26.