Early Life
Shigenobu Nagamori was born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1944, into a farming family. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic University near Tokyo (now Polytechnic University) in 1967. Before founding Nidec, he worked for two engineering firms.
Rise to Success
Nagamori established Nidec Corporation in 1973, at the age of 28. Under his leadership, the company became the world's largest manufacturer of micromotors. Nagamori employed an aggressive strategy of mergers and acquisitions, integrating over 50 companies into the Nidec Group. He also implemented a management style prioritizing employee welfare. In 2014, Nidec reached annual sales of one trillion yen.
Key Business Strategies
Nagamori focused on motors for various applications, including small precision motors, automotive motors, and home appliance motors. He has consistently aimed for a large global market share, emphasizing the importance of innovation and reaching new markets. In 2018, Nagamori announced a plan to achieve 10 trillion yen in revenue by 2030.
Philanthropy
Nagamori founded the Nagamori Foundation to support scientific and industrial development, research in power generation, and eco-friendly solutions. He inaugurated the "Nagamori Awards" in 2014 to recognize R&D engineers in motor-related technologies. In 2017, he donated $90 million to establish an engineering research project at Kyoto Gakuen University.