Chairman Nakakita: Be Ahead of the Game

Dear Colleagues,

As the world slowly but surely returns to normalcy like in pre-covid days, I’m very pleased to have had the chance to meet many of you physically at the recent HAS Bi-annual Gathering.

Though a year on, and there is little respite from the Russia-Ukraine war. In fact, the geopolitical tensions around the globe have only deepened with the further straining of U.S-China ties. It is now the West versus the East. For ASEAN countries that are situated at a geographical centre, we are in a sweet spot where massive amounts of supply chain and assets will flow through us. But with that said, I need all of you to be aware that change – whether for the better or worst - can happen anytime. While the dynamics of the geopolitical issues may present huge opportunities for us in ASEAN, there will also be threats. Obviously, there is a shift taking place globally now and the best way to deal with it is to be ahead of our game.

A new year, a new term. From 1st April 2023, there will be significant changes in Hitachi’s reporting line. All Regional Heads like me, will report directly to the President and CEO of Hitachi, Ltd. Kojima-san. This means faster decision-making will be made, especially where there are potential risks and/or opportunities that need to be addressed fast. From this, I’m sure that you would have deduced the sense of urgency and the different times that we are living in now. Again, there will be shifts on a global level, and even closer to home on a regional level. So, I cannot further emphasize the importance of staying alert and looking ahead. Please have the foresight to see beyond and anticipate.

Our collective mission in Hitachi is to contribute to society. And our duty as employees is to keep presenting new opportunities in the areas of Green, Digital and Innovation, and mitigate the risks. It is a balancing act that we should all be familiar with by now.

Remember that the only constant is change. So be prepared for more of such changes.

Echoing the words of Kojima-san, 2023 is an important year for all of us, especially in the 2024 Mid-term Management Plan. Let’s make this year an unforgettable one together as One Hitachi!

Kojin Nakakita
Chairman
Hitachi Asia Ltd.