IR News

Kurita Announces New President

April 25, 2003

Kurita Water Industries Ltd., today announced that Hiroshi Fujino, 61, is to become the Company's new President, effective June 27, 2003. Fujino, currently Executive Senior Managing Director, will succeed Santo Takahide, who will assume the currently vacant position of Chairman. This shift in management responsibilities is aimed at revitalizing management through an infusion of younger management timed to coincide with the start of the new three-year medium-term business plan, PA-5. Kurita expects that this changing of the guard will spark a further leap in progress in its plans to develop new businesses and expand its business domain. Both appointments are to be confirmed in the Board of Directors' Meeting after the upcoming general meeting of shareholders on June 27.

Fujino joined Kurita Industries in 1964 after graduating from the Faculty of Sciences at Kyushu University. He brings a wealth of experience to his new position, both in the operations and management of the Company. He has worked in both of Kurita's core business areas, water treatment chemicals and water treatment facilities. Fujino's rise within management has been rapid since becoming a Director in 1993. He was promoted to Managing Director In 1997, and moved up to Executive Senior Managing Director in June 1999. Throughout his career, he has proven himself to be a well-balanced, insightful manager. Moreover, Fujino's seven years of service outside Japan have given him an international perspective and make him an appropriate leader of the Company in this age of globalization and rapidly changing markets.

Kurita is pleased to have a person of Fujino's high caliber to take over the reins of the daily operations of its business at a time when the Company is solidifying its existing position as a global leader in water treatment chemicals and facilities and expanding its business domain with the goal of becoming an Advanced Water and Environmental Management Company.