Staying the course

Masamichi Terabatake, Japan Tobacco’s designated president and CEO, has no plans to change the company’s basic strategy, reports Nikkei Asian Review.

Rather, he intends to continue focusing on the core tobacco business, in the belief that the tobacco segment has plenty of room to grow. “There is still a lot of white space we have yet to fill,” he was quoted as saying.

Terabatake is expected to take charge as president and CEO after JT’s general shareholders’ meeting in March 2018.

He has worked on major overseas acquisitions. In recent years, the firm has acquired companies in Ethiopia, Bolivia, the Philippines and other emerging countries while accelerating efforts to develop new products and businesses.