The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan said Tuesday Samuel Kidder will become executive director June 1, succeeding Donald Westmore.

After joining the U.S. Commerce Department in 1983, Kidder, a native of New Jersey, served as minister-counselor for commercial affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo from 1997 to 2001 and 2003 to 2006.

The ACCJ, established in 1948, has close to 3,000 individual members representing more than 40 countries and 1,400 companies.