In the wake of several scandals, Fuji TV ‘emperor' Hieda steps down
Hisashi Hieda, a 41-year veteran of Fuji TV's board of directors dubbed the broadcaster's 'emperor,' has stepped down following a series of scandals that have surfaced since December, the company announced on Thursday.
The 87-year-old Hieda, who served as adviser of Fuji TV and its parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, is thought to have been the most influential person in the media conglomerate.
Osamu Kanemitsu, the president of Fuji Media Holdings — who, with Thursday's announcement, will become chairman from June — said that Hieda also plans to step down as chairman of the Fujisankei Communications Group, of which Fuji Media Holdings is a part.
The company has been under scrutiny since two weekly magazines reported in December allegations of 'serious trouble' between TV celebrity Masahiro Nakai, a former member of boy band SMAP, and a woman. The broadcaster's handling of the issue went on to balloon into widespread criticism of its corporate culture.
In January, Fuji TV's then-president, Koichi Minato, and then-chairman, Shuji Kanoh, resigned at an unprecedented 10-hour-long news conference, during which many reporters raised questions about Hieda's absence and asked why he had not stepped down.
Fuji TV vice chairman Ryunosuke Endo will also be stepping down in June, the company announced on Thursday.
Dalton Investments, a major shareholder of Fuji TV, had also repeatedly expressed its disapproval over its entrenched old-fashioned corporate culture nature, alluding to Hieda's influence in a letter sent to the broadcaster.
On Thursday, Fuji TV announced a major overhaul of its management, including appointing several individuals age 50 and younger to its board. It also introduced quotas for female members to ensure they make up at least 30% of the board.
The company also plans to downsize its board to 10 members, from 22 currently, beginning in June; Fuji Media Holdings will also reduce the number of its board members, from 17 currently, to 11.
'Hieda is not the only point of this management overhaul,' said Kanemitsu. 'The big idea of this overhaul is to tackle issues that have existed in our company such as the excessive number of people on the board and the high average age — and upon that we have decided that Hieda would not be part of the new management.'
Hieda, 87, served as adviser of Fuji TV and its parent company, Fuji Media Holdings, and is thought to have been the most influential person in the media conglomerate. |
JIJI
Hieda, who joined Fuji TV in 1961, served as its president for 13 years between the late '80s and '90s — a period considered by many as the 'golden era' for the company.
Not only did Hieda continue to be a powerhouse at the company — especially after he defended the broadcaster from being acquired in 2005 by Livedoor, the company of well-known Japanese entrepreneur Takafumi Horie — he is also thought to have close ties with the political world as well.
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