New President at NHK

TOKYO, January 25: Shigeo Fukuchi has been officially inaugurated
as the new president of Japanese pubcaster NHK, after having been approved by
the company’s board of governors in December 2007.

At a press conference earlier today, Fukuchi said that the
company’s most important mission is to regain and enhance people’s trust. The
NHK has been plagued by scandals the last few year, most recently involving
insider-trading allegations for several employees. Fukuchi also stressed the
importance that, as a public broadcaster, NHK must work to enrich high-quality
programs, provide prompt and accurate news, enhance international broadcasting
and promote digital terrestrial broadcasting as well.

The previous president, Genichi Hashimoto, stepped down
January 24, following a three-year term. Taeko Nagai, who served her three-year
term as NHK’s executive VP, also resigned yesterday. The next VP is expected to
be appointed by Fukuchi shortly.

Fukuchi comes to the position from Asahi Breweries, where he
most recently served as chairman and CEO, and also became an advisor to the
board. He is the first president to be appointed from outside NHK since 1988,
when Yoshizo Ikeda joined the company from a role at Mitsui & Co.

—By Kristin Brzoznowski