Yutaka Kobayashi, President Chief Executive Officer, KUREHA CORPORATION

Biography:
Born in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture in 1952.
Graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Economics in 1974.
Joined Kureha Chemical Industries, Ltd. (now Kureha Corporation) in 1974
President and Representative Director of Kureha Chemicals Singapore Pte Ltd. in 2000
Director and General Manager of Chemicals Business Division in 2005
Director, Managing Executive Officer, General Manager of PGA Business Division, General Manager of Chemicals Business Division, and in charge of New Business Promotion Div. In charge of New Business Development Division in 2010
Representative Director, Executive Vice President, General Manager of Sales Division, General Manager of PGA Business Division in 2012
Representative Director and President, General Manager of PGA Business Div. in September of the above year
Current position since April 2013

My connection with First Wednesday began through a speaking engagement through an acquaintance. Ten years have passed since I became president, and as I take the helm of the company on a daily basis, I realize that I am fully aware of what is going on outside the company. In this context, the level of change in politics, economics, and society in the world is unimaginable. In this sense, First Wednesday invites top leaders from various fields and spends more time for question-and-answer sessions, which I find most attractive. I have learned a lot since I joined. I highly recommend that you join.