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SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son turned to a four-decade-old friend in April after presenting a list of 30 candidates to become a new female director of the Japanese technology group.
Keiko Erikawa, president of Koei Tecmo Holdings, was in fact the type of female entrepreneur sought by the billionaire founder. It involves a management style that is very different from the high-risk approach Son has taken from SoftBank historical loss last year the biggest profit ever For a Japanese company.
Erikawa created a $ 7.5 million gaming company with her husband for such a huge success Nobunaga’s Ambition and Uncharted Waters, has never laid off workers or lost them in 43 years. The capital adjustment ratio arose from the Covid-19 pandemic of 86 percent, emphasizing the strength of its balance sheet.
“Initially, I told her that our company was looking for women’s management and that I didn’t have the time,” Erikawa told the Financial Times in an interview, recalling her interview with Sem in the spring. “But I thought it could be fun and acceptable, considering I’ve known him for a long time and we’ve worked on a lot of business accounts from time to time, so I know his personality very well.”
Erikawa is expected to be appointed non-executive director of SoftBank this month, pending shareholder approval. Her appointment was Yuko Kawamoto, a well-known expert in the government corporation, the first and only female director of the group. he resigned last month Son revealed after internal control problems.
Erikawa, a 72-year-old game designer, is also known for managing Koei Tecmo’s $ 1 billion surplus funds and other assets, and has been investing in stocks for 18 years.
“I have always continued to invest in tough environments, including investments in new businesses. So I hope to be somewhat useful as a member of SoftBank’s management in that aspect as well, ”he said.
Erikawa has known his son since he founded SoftBank in 1981 as a distributor of computer software and has seen the company become the third largest mobile carrier in Japan and a $ 100,000 million investment group backed by Saudi Arabia. Vision Fund. “Considering his personality, he will not be happy [SoftBank becomes] as the world’s first investment company, ”he said.
Although Kawamoto was critical of SoftBank’s governance structure, Erikawa said he was not too concerned with the stability of the group’s financial performance.
“Mr. Son was very depressed after a big loss last year, so‘ What are you talking about? “Investment is always risky,” Erikawa said, referring to SoftBank’s gross bets, such as the WeWork property group. “Humans improve through challenges and failures, so I think they will be able to achieve good results in the future.”
One of Koei Tecmo’s challenges has been to cultivate female talent.
“Including myself, many Japanese women don’t want to be in senior management. Even if they have the same responsibilities, it’s psychologically easier to be in two positions than to be in front, “Erikawa said.” There are very talented women in Japan, so I feel the need to change that structure. “
Hirokazu Hamamura, a gaming expert and digital content consultant at Kadokawa Publishing, said Erikawa could become a voice on SoftBank’s board, which could counter Son’s influence.
“Ms. Erikawa is a role model for other women managers and one of the pioneers in the gaming industry. He also won’t hesitate to tell anyone in his head, but he can do it without insulting people because of his personality, ”Hamamura said.
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