Osamu Suzuki, former Suzuki Motor Chairman dies at 94
Suzuki has announced the passing of Osamu Suzuki, the former chairman of the company who led it for 40 years, he was 94 years old. He stepped down as the chairman in 2021 after his 40 years of dedication.
Osamu Suzuki was born as Osamu Matsuda on January 30, 1930 in Giru Prefecture, Japan. He was the fourth son in a farming family and his career transformed into a legacy after marrying into the Suzuki family. Before starting his career in Suzuki, Osamu had worked as a junior high school teacher during the day and as a night guard during the night to support his family. And right before joining Suzuki he had also worked in a bank.
Osamu took over as president in 1978, after which he lead the company in terms of expansion and growth. He played a pivotal role in establishing collaborations with General Motors and Volkswagen which helped the company in making room for itself in American and European markets. The Indian market was operated as to the price sensitive nature it had and thus the focus was on affordable products.
Osamu Suzuki's leadership philosophy was centered around decisiveness and moving forward. He wrote in his 2009 memoir, "If I were to listen to everybody, it would make things too slow,"
In 2000, Osamu stepped down as the president, but he was actively involved in the company operations. When the financial recession hit the market in 2008, Suzuki returned as the president at the age of 78 at the forefront of operations while the company faced the first profit decline in eight years. An official statement from Osamu Suzuki read, "In the face of an extremely difficult business environment, I have to stand at the forefront. In the past 30 years, a sense of complacency has spread throughout the company. As the one who brought the company to where it is, I have to correct this and lead the company until the economy improves."
In 2016, the company succumbed to the accusations of using unapproved methods for testing vehicle fuel efficiency, this also led to management changes and decline in the stakes and shares. Osamu Suzuki publicly apologised and acknowledged the "top-down" culture that deterred junior employees from sharing their opinions.
Suzuki expressed that he will always be actively available for advices at his retirement. He mentioned that he played golf 47 times the previous year and said, "I'm full of life,"
Osamu Suzuki passed away on December 25, 2024, after succumbing to lymphoma. The man who gave India the Maruti 800, Zen, Alto and bikes like the Hayabusa, and the Intruder. Thank you and rest in peace.