Data: Standard & Poor's Compustat | |
OCTOBER 24, 2005
No. 20: Komatsu Masahiro Sakane, 64, president since June, 2001
Heavy equipment SALES $13.4 billion PROFITS $551 million
But today, Sakane's top worry is whether Komatsu can keep up with demand. The big difference? Sales outside Japan now represent 63.7% of revenue, compared with just 46.5% in 2001. That reflects a strategic decision by Sakane to target emerging markets. He has also been an unflinching cost-cutter, shaving $450 million in fixed costs by pruning the payroll. Komatsu expects operating margins in its core construction machinery and mining equipment division to reach 9.7% by March, 2006 -- on a par with industry leader Caterpillar Inc. (CAT ) By 2010, sales in fast-developing Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will likely increase to 20% of the total, up from 11% now. ``There's a lot more growth ahead,'' says Sakane. And Komatsu is in an excellent position to exploit it. 
BW MALL
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