When Masato Mizuno succeeded his father as president of Mizuno Corp. in 1988, the largest sporting-goods maker in Japan was a stumbling giant. But the new boss swiftly installed automation equipment and used marketing savvy to get the family firm back on track. The revitalized company (1989 sales: $1 billion) last year captured a dominant 30% share of Japan's $1.3 billion market for golf and baseball equipment. Now it is launching a major drive into the U.S. and other countries. "Grandfather founded the company, and father introduced technological innovations," Masato says. "Now it's my turn to expand and truly internationalize it."
...Master of The Games
Japan's leading sporting-goods maker takes aim at the U.S.
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