OSAKA -- Takeshi Kakiuchi, vice president of West Japan Railway Co., will become the carrier's president April 1, replacing Shojiro Nanya, who will become chairman, JR West said Monday.
The decision to promote Kakiuchi, 58, was reached as the 61-year-old Nanya's stint as president will enter its sixth year this year, company officials said.
Nanya will succeed Masataka Ide, 67, who will become an adviser to the company, they said.
The changes are expected to be formally endorsed by the board Feb. 25.
Kakiuchi joined Japanese National Railways in 1969. With the privatization and breakup of JNR, he joined JR West when it was founded in 1987.
He has been the company's vice president since June 2001.
