Japan Post's Takahashi likely to head OTC postal service firm

The government is eyeing Toshihiro Takahashi, currently vice president of Japan Post and a former Toyota Motor Corp. managing director, to assume the post of president of a postal company that will manage over-the-counter services of post offices across Japan from Oct. 1, 2007, sources familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Takahashi, 66, is recognized for his success in improving the efficiency of Japan Post’s mail delivery operations by introducing Toyota-style management techniques, they said.

He assumed the deputy chief post at Japan Post in April 2003 when the public corporation took over postal services from the government.

The over-the-counter service company is one of four stock firms to be created in October next year by splitting Japan Post’s businesses as part of the postal privatization.

The other three firms are in charge of postal savings, postal insurance and mail delivery services, respectively.

The four firms are to be placed under a holding company.

Hiroaki Dan, Japan Post’s another vice president, is expected to become a board member of a planning company that will be formed Jan. 23 to set the stage for the privatization.

The planning company will be converted into the holding company of the four firms by October 2007.

The over-the-counter service company will manage about 24,000 post offices across Japan. It will act as an agent of the other three firms and will provide part of their services at post offices. It will also launch its own businesses such as over-the-counter ticket sales.

The sources said Takahashi may also join the management committee of the planning company which is to be led by Yoshifumi Nishikawa, a former Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. president.