Okitsu Masahiro (Masahiro Okitsu)

Okitsu Masahiro (Masahiro Okitsu)

Biography

2024: Appointment as head of Sharp

On June 26, 2024, Sharp Corporation announced the appointment of a new president and CEO. It will be Masahiro Okitsu, who previously served as executive vice president of the company.

Okitsu is replaced by Wu Po-Hsuan, who led the corporation for about two years. The change of president is aimed at transforming Sharp's business structure, which is suffering losses - primarily due to weak sales of LCD panels. In addition, Sharp had some disagreements with parent Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.).

Okitsu joined Sharp in 1980. Before taking the post of vice president, he worked as the managing director of the household appliances division. And it is on this direction that the corporation intends to focus efforts to improve the financial situation. Sharp will have to compete with Chinese and South Korean suppliers.

Wu Po-Xuan, after leaving the presidency, will begin to act as a representative director. This is a person who has the right to represent the company in other companies, organizations and government agencies, as well as to accept obligations regarding third parties, without prior permission of the board of directors.

Sharp said in May 2024 that as part of efforts to streamline the business, it would focus on "branded" products such as smart appliances and office equipment. The corporation produces LCD screens, smartphones, audiovisual entertainment equipment, video projectors, multifunctional printing devices, microwave ovens, air conditioners, air purifiers, etc. As of 2023, Sharp's global workforce exceeded 46 thousand employees.^[1]

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