Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
May 25, 2015
Tokyo, May 25, 2015 - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, “Hitachi”) announced today that Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman and CEO of Hitachi, Ltd., has been named an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This British Award was established in 1917 by King George V. Up to that time, similar awards were presented to politicians, soldiers, and public officials, but the Order of the British Empire is bestowed upon individuals who have made substantial contributions to the United Kingdom, including economists, intellectuals, entertainers, athletes and persons working in social contribution.
Mr. Nakanishi has served as President of Hitachi Europe Ltd., which is headquartered in the U.K., and as Chief Executive for Europe, functioning as a representative for the Hitachi Group in Europe. He has contributed to the development of Japanese-British relations, mainly through the railway business and by introducing other aspects of Hitachi's Social Infrastructure Systems. Since being appointed Chairman and CEO, he has made active efforts to expand the Hitachi Group's business in the U.K., for example by building relationships with the British government, industry and society more generally. It is in recognition of these achievements that he has been named to the Order of the British Empire.
The Hitachi Group began its full-scale entry into the British market in the 1980s, and has since expanded its Social Infrastructure Business and digital home appliance business. It is currently contributing to the development of the British economy, mainly through the rollout of Social Innovation Business, including the railway systems business, which is a core field for the Hitachi Group. In 2007, Hitachi delivered Class 395 high-speed trains connecting St. Pancras Station in Central London with Ashford in Kent, contributing to increased convenience for people living in the regions along that line. During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the Class 395 was used as a shuttle service from Central London to Olympic venues, providing a reliable means of transport throughout the Games. In 2012, Hitachi received an order for 866 train carriages and maintenance operations for the Intercity Express Programme. It is currently in the process of building a new local production plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in the North East of England and is planning to hire approximately 730 employees. In the nuclear power generation business, in October 2012, Hitachi acquired Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd., a British nuclear power generation business development company, and is currently undertaking projects involving the construction of new nuclear power plants in the U.K. Plans call for the construction of two or three 1,300-Megawatt nuclear power generation facilities on each of two sites owned by Horizon, and operation of the first power plant is expected to begin in the 2020s.
The Hitachi Group will continue the active development Social Innovation Business as a core business, contributing to the development of the U.K.
“It is truly an overwhelming honor to have been named to the Order of the British Empire. Since Hitachi Europe was established as a European base in London, U.K., in 1982, the Hitachi Group has been building a strong relationship with the U.K. for more than a quarter of a century, for example by introducing Social Infrastructure Systems. I have served as President of Hitachi Europe Ltd. and as Chief Executive for Europe, representing the Hitachi Group in Europe, and have positioned the U.K. as an important base for Hitachi's further growth in Europe by actively promoting a variety of activities. I am extremely pleased and sincerely grateful that these activities have been recognized by the British Government and by the people of this country. Receiving this honor has given me even greater incentive to act as a bridge of friendship between Japan and the U.K. even more than ever before.”
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges with our talented team and proven experience in global markets. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2014 (ended March 31, 2015) totaled 9,761 billion yen ($81.3 billion). Hitachi is focusing more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes power & infrastructure systems, information & telecommunication systems, construction machinery, high functional materials & components, automotive systems, healthcare and others. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
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