Toshiba taps ex-top execs of major firms as outside directors

The company also announced that it would appoint a host of renowned Japanese business people as outside directors

It seems odd that Toshiba is appointing only "Japanese business people" as outside directors. This is a global company, shouldn't it also have several renowned non-Japanese business people as well?

shouldn't it also have several renowned non-Japanese business people as well?

could it attract renowned non-Japanese business people?

They would probably only be appointees from other companies in the extended Toshiba group, the Sumitomo Mitsui keiretsu; which includes Asahi beer, Sumitomo Banking, Mazda cars, Fujifilm, Sony, all guaranteed not to rock the Toshiba boat too much.

@Sensato,

This is a global company, shouldn't it also have several renowned non-Japanese business people as well?

I understand the premise of that idea; however, it could actually be an impediment to good corporate governance.

Here is the reason. Whilst Toshiba may be a global company, I can guarantee you that the functional language at the head office and at the director level is Japanese. All documents that the directors review and sign off on are likely in Japanese. For the audit committee, I would venture to say that the working level papers that would need to be reviewed to ensure good corporate governance would likely be in Japanese.

So, in order for non-Japanese business people to be appointed as directors and to be effective, Toshiba would have to put in place a whole structure to support English language documents, board meetings, etc. Not exactly a small task. Some Japanese companies have done it because they have had to. Such as Nissan. Some have done it because they have chosen to. Such as Sony.

Not that it shouldn't be done, just that it is not as simple as one would think, I imagine.

Most forced to retire at 60, and if lucky rehired until 65 at a much reduced yearly contract, yet the elite clowns get those slow falling golden parachutes and rake in huge dough. Shame on you Toshiba and other big corporations. Putting in your buddies and padding their wallets. SHAMEFUL

They're appointing people to the board who can teach them how to not get caught...