Setting strategy in a volatile environment New Mitsui Chemicals CEO plots COVID response and growth plans

摘要

Mitsui Chemicals'new president and CEO Osamu Hashimoto took the helm on 1 April,succeeding chairman TsutomuTannowa.There wasn't much time to reflect before addressing the immediate challenges presented by COVID-19 and resulting sharp economic deterioration."First of all,the countermeasure to COVID-19 was the most important issue,"Hashimoto tells CW."We had to prioritize ensuring the safety of employees and then establish a system for stable plant operations,securing cash flows,optimizing inventories in preparation for a sharp drop in demand,and collecting information for accurate supply and demand determination."Measures to mitigate the financial and operating impacts of COVID-19 are ongoing,but Mitsui Chemicals is also preparing for market recovery and re-evaluation of long-term goals and strategies."To this end,we will carefully select investment projects,"Hashimoto says."We will steadily implement necessary future investments,especially in three target domains."