JR Tokai vice chairman Matsumoto named as new NHK chief

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TOKYO, Jan. 15 Kyodo -
Public broadcaster NHK on Saturday named Masayuki Matsumoto, vice chairman of
Central Japan Railway Co., as its next president, succeeding Shigeo Fukuchi
whose three-year term ends on Jan. 24.
NHK's board of governors selected the new president unanimously at its
extraordinary meeting, which was convened after former Keio University
President Yuichiro Anzai rejected the offer earlier this week to head the
broadcaster, officially known as Japan Broadcasting Corp.
Matsumoto, 66, served as president of the railway operator, commonly known as
JR Tokai, from 2004 and has held the post of vice chairman since April 2010. He
will assume a three-year term at NHK starting Jan. 25.
''In terms of their public nature, a railway company and NHK share the same
basic values,'' Matsumoto told a press conference at JR Tokai's headquarters in
Nagoya. ''I will start with a clean slate in terms of management content, so I
would like to hear the opinions of various people.''
The hastily decided appointment of Matsumoto comes after Anzai, 64, who had
once agreed to take up the post, said Tuesday he refused the position due to
his distrust of the NHK board and its chairman Shigehiro Komaru.
Late last year, Anzai accepted the board's offer to become NHK president, but
Komaru later asked Anzai to decline. The 12-member board, NHK's top
decision-making body, was concerned about speculation that Anzai had attached
conditions such as personnel matters and perks to the position, sources
familiar with the case said.
Komaru said at a separate press conference Saturday that Matsumoto has
experience in succeeding with privatizing the Japanese National Railways and
''has headed JR Tokai with strong leadership,'' adding that his appointment is
''appropriate in fulfilling the duty and role as a public broadcaster.''
On his role in the confusion over the appointment, Komaru said, ''I deeply
regret it has taken a very long time (to appoint a new head). I will reflect on
this issue and hope to discuss it at future board meetings.''
Matsumoto has the task of regaining trust from viewers after a spate of
scandals involving NHK last year, including a case in which an NHK reporter
informed a sumo stablemaster about an upcoming police raid over an illegal
gambling scandal in sumo.
''NHK is also making efforts to improve,'' Matsumoto said. ''We will steadily
implement what needs to be done.''
Matsumoto will be the second straight appointment from a private company to
NHK's top post.
Fukuchi, 76, assumed the presidency of the broadcaster in January 2008, after
serving as president, chairman and adviser of Asahi Breweries Ltd. He has
expressed his desire to retire, citing his age and health.
Fukuchi took the post after his predecessor Genichi Hashimoto resigned to take
responsibility for a series of scandals involving NHK staff.
NHK's board of governors is the decision-making body for every important matter
concerning NHK's management policy and operations, including the annual budget
and operational plan, the broadcaster says on its website.
The appointment of an NHK president needs the backing of at least nine members
of the board.
==Kyodo
2011-01-15 23:18:49