Motoi Oyama, the president of Asics, was elected president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) for a three-year term.
Oyama was nominated by acclamation by the newly elected Board of Directors of the WFSGI. He follows John E. Larsen (USA), who has been elected president at the extraordinary General Assembly in Las Vegas, June 2007. Oyama is the third WFSGI president from Japan after Kihachiro Onitsuka (1983 – 1986 as well as 1992 – 1995) and Masato Mizuno (2001 – 2004). He is son-in-law of Onitsuka, who was the founder of ASICS.
After his election, Oyama said: “I am very proud and honored to have been appointed the 13th president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry. During my three year tenure, even though it is for a limited period of time, I am determined to courageously address and resolve challenges confronting us.”
Oyama's ideas for the next three years The new president has a sharp vision of the role of the WFSGI and points to work on. “The objectives of the WFSGI are to promote free and fair transactions in the globalized marketplace, and to ensure that people around the world can lead happy and comfortable lives, by improving their health through sports.”
Trade, federation, responsibility
“Also I will lead the following important themes as a president:
Trade – We need to promote fair trade and to resolve anti-dumping issue.
Federations – We encourage harmonious and healthy relations.
Corporate Social Responsibility- We protect global environment and improve healthy labor conditions in order to create sustainable products.
We, WFSGI members' mission is to supply the 'genuine' merchandise to the market to maintain the consumer's trust toward – Brand' and – Roman', which are brought by top athletes' performance.
I am sure to achieve sustainable growth of sports industry, so we should strengthen powers for development, marketing, planning, innovative technology, design and production. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that without cooperation between brands manufacturers and manufacturers, the sports industry cannot expect future growth. I will therefore function as a 'bridge' between them, and will work to achieve sustainable growth of the sports industry in the future, always keeping in mind the perspectives of markets and consumers.”
Career of Motoi Oyama
Born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1951, he graduated on March 1974 from the Faculty of Business, Osaka City University, Japan. Joining ASICS Corporation in 1982, he became President & COO, ASICS Europe B.V in July 2001, Director in charge of Overseas and corporate strategy and Senior General Manager, Marketing Division of ASICS Corporation and Chairman & CEO, ASICS Europe B.V. in June 2006. Since April 2008, Mr. Oyama has been President and Representative Director of ASICS.
