CURRICULUM VITAE
NAOHIKO SATA
Born on 22.3.1939, in Osaka, Japan.
Married, Swiss Nationality since 1973.
Entered the primary school in Ashiya, Hyogo Ken in 1945.
Won the 2nd prize for the district Japan-West of Mainichi piano contest.
Followed his mother to visit her country Switzerland: entered the primary school in Prilly near Lausanne.
Attended the Insutite Ribaupierre in Lausanne to continue music studies.
Obtained lessons from Alfred Cortot 'the Poet of Chopin'; was recommended by him to pursue music carrier.
Returned to Japan in autumn 1950.
Entered Nada high school in 1951.
Abandoned music carrier in 1956.
Admitted to Tokyo University, junior course in April 1957;
Admitted to International Relations section, Faculty of Liberal Arts
(Kyoyo Gakka, Kokusai Kankeironka) in 1959.
Bachelor's thesis on development of international relations, history on the development of
United Nations.
Admitted to Marubeni Corporation in April 1961. Engaged as staff member of Heavy Machinery Department. In charge of import promotion of steel making plants of VOEST-ALPINE (National Steelwork of Austria).
Transferred to newly founded R & D section of same department in
1962.
Main references:
Introduction of SIGNODE steel strapping system to NKK
Assigned as secretary to General Manager in 1963.
Assigned as staff member of Marubeni Germany, in charge of machinery
department, responsible for export to Japan of all kind of machinery and plants.
Main references:
Total planning of LOTTE candy production project in Sayama, Japan; purchase of machinery, engagement of personnel, etc.
Assigned to inaugurate Marubeni Germany's Swiss branch in Zurich in 1972; launched activities on:
Development of business with African and Middle-East countries example: delivery of vehicles of all kind to Algeria
Assigned as Vice president of Marubeni Germany in 1975.
Assigned to inaugurate Market Intelligence Center in Geneva in 1984; main activities were:
R & D, including M & A related projects
Retirement from Marubeni in April 1996, set up NS CONSULTING, offering consultant services in Technology Transfer, Project Management of all kind.
Additionally, was assigned from July 1997 to June 1998 as CEO (Executive Vice President) of TOYO TANSO EUROPE in Milano. TOYO TANSO is world leader in high quality (isothropic) graphite, among others for use in semiconductor production, and also top producer of carbon brushes. It has acquired an Italian company specialized over years in the development and production of commutators, so as to offer integrate Motor Rotation Control Systems. On top of assignment as CEO of the Italian company, also in charge of market exploitation for the whole Europe, Russia, MIDDLE EAST.
From July to December 1998, was appointed as Senior Strategic Advisor of TOYO TANSO for the latter's marketing activity in Europe and Russia.
Gave lecture on "key to the successful conquest of the Japanese market"
at Chamber of Commerce in Neuchatel
(under sponsorship by JETRO, as well as Swiss Japan Chamber of Commerce--SJCC)
dto. on "investment situation of Japan in Central and East European countries" at IMD (top management training center in Lausanne)
dto. on "Entering the Japanese Market through SOGO SHOOSHA" at JETRO/SJCC related seminars
dto. on "Marubeni Corporation, a Japanese General Trading group" at JETRO/SJCC seminars
dto. on "Why is Japan still an object of interest?" at ST.GALLEN UNIV.
dto. on "Japan nowadays" at CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE, VALAIS
dto. on "How to enter the Japanese Market" at OSEC (Swiss Office for Trade Expansion)