Author: Ben Debski

1961

Mitarai graduated from the University of Chuo in 1961

70^%

Since he took over as CEO Canon’s revenue has grown 70 percent

Chairman of Japanese electronics corporation Canon, Fujio Mitarai, utliises aspects of both Eastern and Western business philosophy in what has since been termed ‘the Mitarai way’. Continually setting innovative business precedents in his pushing of path-breaking manufacturing methods and in reviving unprofitable business models, Mitarai displays a measure of success in an ailing economy. Commonly viewed as a world-leading business executive, Mitarai demonstrates the importance of innovation and of leadership in the face of tough financial prospects.

$3.9bn

Dekkers allocated $3.9bn to Bayer’s R&D division in 2012, one of the largest in pharmaceuticals

$52.8bn

Dekkers had a fantastic year with Bayer, making $52.8bn from sales in 2012

Marijn Dekkers describes his business philosophy as being “more innovation, less administration”. Having developed Bayer from an ailing pharmaceutical company to a pioneering corporate model, Dekkers emphasises the importance of Bayer having focused on new markets and in understanding differences with individual economies. Innovation, for Dekkers, is not achieved with complexity and spending, but through the streamlining of manufacturing and process.

80^%

There’s an 80 percent chance your disc drive is made by Nidec

ISO 14001

Nidec was one of the first to obtain an ISO 14001 certification

Nidec is a Japanese manufacturer of electric motors and is widely considered to have been instrumental in the early expansion of modern-day transport systems. Nidec currently holds almost 1,000 patents in motor and drive technology and develops services to befit its customers’ ever-changing needs. With improved energy efficiency being a key driver in the current market, Nidec is ensuring its advancements are geared to remain environmentally friendly.

1999

Infosys was the first Indian company to be listed on the US Stock Exchange in 1999

2008

Infosys was making over $4bn in revenue per year by 2008

An Indian multinational provider of business consulting, engineering and outsourcing services, Infosys is considered a market leader for its corporate governance practices and contributions in furthering green business performance. Infosys aims to further accelerate the development of solutions with its encouragement of co-operation and co-creation with similarly minded businesses. The company aims to offer IT-led innovation to further its industry and promote enterprising platforms to further benefit those using its services.

219bn+

photos on its system

17.5bn

location-tagged posts

140bn+

friend connections to one billion users

268bn+

photos on its servers

Facebook is renowned for having initiated a global dependence on social media. Established in 2004 as a means to network with local college communities, Facebook has since been extensively rewritten as a fundamental indicator of identity. By constantly monitoring and responding to an active community exceeding a billion users, Facebook is a global leader in demonstrating what can be achieved by considering consumer demands and in pursuing an unflinching approach to innovation.

1901

Atlas Copco designed the first completely Swedish diesel engine in 1901

2012

Atlas Copco established a new digital management solution for generator sets in 2012

By providing “long-term industrial experience, as well as innovative products and solutions to current and new customers”, Ronnie Leten has ensured Atlas Copco’s reputation as a highly respected business. Since heading the industrial tooling and equipment manufacturer  Leten has instigated a number of measures to develop the global industrial group. Having recently established China as its primary market, Leten has adapted the business accordingly to meet ever-changing demands.

$2.5bn

SAP spends on average $2.5bn per year on R&D

1,200

SAP offers over 1,200 products and services at its SAP Store

SAP is a German software corporation primarily focused on the manufacturing of enterprise software business operations. As well as being one of the largest software companies worldwide, SAP shows a constant willingness to offer innovative solutions to business and in furthering developments in the IT industry. SAP monitors the feedback of its customers and considers their responses invaluable in guiding the direction of SAP. With a respectable reputation in manufacturing advanced, customer-orientated solutions, SAP represents the best in software innovation.

ARM Holdings is a British software and semiconductor design company, focusing primarily on processors and software development tools under the brand names RealView and Keil. The defining characteristic of ARM processors is low electric power consumption for portable devices. ARM is unique in that it licenses technology as intellectual property rather than making its own CPUs. An ambition of the company is to see ARM-based processors installed in over 50 percent of all tablets, notebooks and mobile PCs sold on the market.

2012

Bon was awarded with an Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012 from Singapore’s ROTARY-ASME

200+

Bon has led an initiative to distribute daily provisions to over 200 needy people in Singapore

OKH Holdings, a property development company based in Singapore, is unique in that it integrates property development and construction services, with a focus on large-scale industrial projects and infrastructural ventures. Putting to use some of the world’s most highly regarded engineers and technicians, the group’s property development projects are noted for their aesthetics and socially responsible features. Thomas Bon established the burgeoning outfit with nominal resources and continues to oversee OKH’s impressive growth as its Chief Executive Officer Executive Chairman. Building on its growth momentum, Bon is preparing the group’s next phase of growth in Singapore and beyond.

$3.2bn

Square was valued at $3.2bn in September 2012

$1bn

Dorsey’s personal stake in the company is said to be worth $1bn

Jack Dorsey is an American web developer and entrepreneur best known for having co-founded social media platform Twitter and mobile payments company Square. Dorsey’s three founding principles of simplicity, constraint and craftsmanship are fundamental in the make-up of his business philosophy, and have since proved influential in the pioneering and advancement of associated platforms. Dorsey is widely considered one of the foremost minds of the digital age and, at present, acts as executive chairman for Twitter and as CEO for Square.

2012

Rakuten bought Canadian ebook reader Kobo in 2012

$100m

Rakuten is leading a consortium investing $100m in file-sharing site Pinterest

Rakuten is a Japanese electronic commerce company and the largest of its sector in its native country. Having established itself as a leading competitor in the region, Rakuten is taking major steps to realise its potential as a global, adaptable and expansive business model. Moving into banking, e-money, telecommunications and travel, Rakuten has proved itself to be a diverse operator in an increasingly competitive sector. Rakuten’s expansion overseas has seen it acquire several key players, allowing it to provide a more comprehensive consumer experience.

$1m

Toyota spends more on R&D than any company in the world, investing
$1m every hour

1.7m

Toyota is the world’s leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles, with more than 1.7 million on the road

Widely acknowledged as a leader in the automobile sector, Toyota’s willingness to implement incremental innovations at every stage of design is largely responsible for its status in the market. Demonstrating that development is about creativity, Toyota has proven itself to be an astute and adaptable brand. While the automobile industry has plummeted in recent years, Toyota has shown that growth is more about adaptability than any other method of business.