Mitsuharu Kato Senior Managing Director, overall electronic business Member, Board of Directors, DENSO Corporation

Mitsuharu Kato is a member of the Board of Directors and a senior managing director of DENSO Corporation in Kariya, Aichi, Japan. He oversees DENSO's overall electronic business.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in March 1969, Kato joined DENSO Corporation (formerly Nippondenso Co., Ltd.) in the summer of 1969.

Kato began his career developing automotive semiconductor and IC technologies including IC designing and processing. During this time, he also developed a one-bit microcomputer suitable for sequential control. This unique technology was a first in the automotive industry.

In 1974, Kato worked on the development of LSI technology for traffic controls in conjunction with RCA Corporation of Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A., traveling there frequently.

In 1993, Kato was promoted to general manager of the IC Engineering department , where he headed the development of automotive electronic products such as LSIs, hybrid ICs and IC sensors.

Later, Kato was named general manager of the Electronics Research & Development department, and then general manager of the Information System division.

1998, he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors responsible for the Information System division, and in 1999, made responsible for the ITS Product division.

In June 2004, he was named one of DENSO's managing officers, and promoted to senior managing director in June 2006.

DENSO, a leading global supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components, employs approximately 120,000 people in 32 countries and regions, including Japan. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 totaled US$32.0 billion.

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