tsonobe.jpgTakashi Sonobe, the chairman of the Mitsubishi Motors Corp., died on Oct. 28 from heart failure. He was 62.
Sonobe graduated with an economics degree from Keio University in 1964, then joined Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries Ltd. When Mitsubishi Motors was spun off in 1970, Sonobe transferred to the new company and spent the next three decades working in the office of international business.
He was working as the managing director and corporate general manager in the automaker’s office of North American Car Operations in 2000 when the company’s president resigned in disgrace. Sonobe replaced him, served for two years, then was promoted to chairman of the board.