Takata has declined multiple requests for interviews with its chairman and CEO Takada, as well as for President Stefan Stocker. In response to the most recent interview request, spokeswoman Kikko Takai said the chairman was “extremely busy.”
Takada, 48, couldn’t be reached at his registered address, where a three-story house is under construction. He earned 278 million yen (USD2.4 million) last year in compensation and dividends, more than the 152 million yen made by Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Takata’s biggest customer.
Ito told reporters this week that Honda is trying its best to identify the reasons behind the air-bag accidents and that the related deaths and injuries were “heart wrenching.”
“If people have died and it appears that the defects were your responsibility, obviously there is an immediate need for the board and management to publicly react,” said Nicholas Benes, head of The Board Director Training Institute of Japan. “The board has to jump on it immediately, to make sure the firm has a plan, takes action and continuously reports to the world the steps they’re taking.”
