Japan Tobacco to promote Terabatake to president

November 19, 2017

Tokyo- Japan Tobacco Inc. plans to promote Masamichi Terabatake, executive vice president of JT International SA, a Swiss unit, to the post of president at the parent company, informed sources said Sunday.

Terabatake, 51, is expected to assume the new post at a board meeting to be held after a general shareholders' meeting in March next year, becoming the youngest person to take the reins at the company since its privatization in 1985.

The promotion of Terabatake is designed to strengthen Japan Tobacco's operations overseas and in growth areas at a time when the company is struggling with falling cigarette sales at home, the sources said.

Terabatake has been serving as JT International executive vice president and board director at the parent company since June 2013.

He will replace Mitsuomi Koizumi, 60, who has led efforts to promote acquisitions overseas and make the company's operations more efficient through such steps as the withdrawal from beverage business since becoming Japan Tobacco president in 2012. Jiji Press