Nobuhiko Kawamoto
Encyclopedia
was the CEO of Honda Motor from 1990 to 1998.
in 1963, he joined the Honda F1
team as a design engineer. After Honda pulled out of F1 after the 1968 season to focus on production vehicles, he returned to Japan and rose through the company's ranks. In this period, he helped design the front-wheeled 1972 Honda Civic, as well as the CVCC
engine.
Eventually, he became head of Honda's Research and Design department. Under Kawamoto, Honda returned to motor racing, first with GP2 in 1981. The venture was a success, Ralt-Honda winning three consecutive GP2 titles between 1982 and 1984. Honda returned to Formula One in 1983, eventually winning titles with Williams
and McLaren.
Honda's motor racing success propelled Kawamoto to the top of the company, replacing Tadashi Kume as CEO of Honda in 1990. Kawamoto ended Honda's participation in Formula One after the 1992 season, citing costs as well as creating a more environmentally friendly company image. As CEO, he reorganised the business into three areas (automobile, motocycle and power divisions). He also divided Honda's geographical focus into four areas: Japan, North America, Europe and Rest of the World, and granted each area more autonomy in sales and marketing, manufacturing and development. These changes paid off as Honda's profits grew from $540 million in Fiscal 1990 to $1.78 billion in Fiscal 1996, and North American sales jumped 9%.
Kawamoto also had a love of planes, from watching the Imperial Japanese Navy
take off for bombing runs of China during World War II
.
Kawamoto was ousted from Honda in 1998, replaced by Hiroyuki Yoshino. In December 1998, he was awarded a KBE for "valuable contributions to improving relations between Britain and Japan".
Biography
After graduating from Tohoku UniversityTohoku University
, abbreviated to , located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is a Japanese national university. It is the third oldest Imperial University in Japan and is a member of the National Seven Universities...
in 1963, he joined the Honda F1
Honda F1
Honda Racing F1 Team was a Formula One team run by Japanese car manufacturer Honda, from 1964 to 1968 and from 2006 to 2008. Honda's involvement in F1 began with the 1964 season; their withdrawal in 1968 was precipitated by the death of Honda driver Jo Schlesser during the 1968 French Grand Prix. ...
team as a design engineer. After Honda pulled out of F1 after the 1968 season to focus on production vehicles, he returned to Japan and rose through the company's ranks. In this period, he helped design the front-wheeled 1972 Honda Civic, as well as the CVCC
CVCC
CVCC is a trademark by the Honda Motor Company for an engine with reduced automotive emissions, which stood for "Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion". This technology allowed Honda's cars to meet United States emission standards in the 1970s without a catalytic converter...
engine.
Eventually, he became head of Honda's Research and Design department. Under Kawamoto, Honda returned to motor racing, first with GP2 in 1981. The venture was a success, Ralt-Honda winning three consecutive GP2 titles between 1982 and 1984. Honda returned to Formula One in 1983, eventually winning titles with Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
and McLaren.
Honda's motor racing success propelled Kawamoto to the top of the company, replacing Tadashi Kume as CEO of Honda in 1990. Kawamoto ended Honda's participation in Formula One after the 1992 season, citing costs as well as creating a more environmentally friendly company image. As CEO, he reorganised the business into three areas (automobile, motocycle and power divisions). He also divided Honda's geographical focus into four areas: Japan, North America, Europe and Rest of the World, and granted each area more autonomy in sales and marketing, manufacturing and development. These changes paid off as Honda's profits grew from $540 million in Fiscal 1990 to $1.78 billion in Fiscal 1996, and North American sales jumped 9%.
Kawamoto also had a love of planes, from watching the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
take off for bombing runs of China during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Kawamoto was ousted from Honda in 1998, replaced by Hiroyuki Yoshino. In December 1998, he was awarded a KBE for "valuable contributions to improving relations between Britain and Japan".