DIC President and CEO Kaoru Ino Welcomes New Recruits at Induction Ceremony

Tokyo, Japan—DIC Corporation’s president and CEO, Kaoru Ino, spoke today at an induction ceremony for new recruits joining the Company in fiscal year 2021. As was the case last year, the event was streamed online as part of DIC’s measures to safeguard against COVID-19, with Mr. Ino speaking from corporate headquarters and new recruits watching from the sites to which they had been assigned. The following is a summary of Mr. Ino’s remarks.

I would like to start by congratulating and welcoming all 62 of our new recruits. We are delighted and honored that you have chosen to be part of the DIC family, especially since I am sure you were all courted by a number of other potential employers. It is indeed disappointing that we are unable to gather in a face-to-face setting for today’s induction ceremony, but I would like to celebrate this important occasion by sharing a few words from my heart.

Our lives have changed dramatically over the past year as a result of COVID-19. Telework arrangements have become the norm in most offices. The outbreak of the pandemic has also provided an opportunity to seriously reconsider accepted notions of what constitutes a “production site.” In keeping with lifestyle changes, we have launched a Groupwide project titled “WSR (Work Style Revolution) 2020,” the key concepts of which are “improved productivity" and “increased job satisfaction.”

Looking ahead, I think it’s fair to expect that working hours will be longer for all employees. While maintaining a healthy work–life balance is important, it is also essential to ensure a working environment that enables employees to fully exercise their abilities and is conducive to job satisfaction. In my view, the job satisfaction equation has two variables: work that is meaningful and a positive working environment. I want DIC to be a company that people are proud to work for and which enables employees to reach their full potential by valuing diversified individuality.

No matter how far digitalization progresses, the true essence of work remains something that is performed by people and which progresses when people connect with one another. So whether you are working remotely or using some combination of remote and on-site formats, connecting with others will require resourcefulness and ingenuity. Communication skills are now more important than ever for building relationships of trust with superiors, seniors and colleagues.

“Balance of trust” is a phrase I’ve recently become acquainted with. It was coined by Eiko Hashiba, who received the Nikkei WOMAN “Woman of the Year 2021” award. If your balance falls short, people may not listen to you even if you are telling the truth. The currency of trust is communication. If communication lacks, there is a risk that this balance will decline. If we don’t lose sight of the importance of improving communication skills, we can make sure this balance continues to grow steadily.

We are committed to ESG management. Companies that are unable to contribute to the sustainability of our planet risk losing their raison d’être and may forfeit their ability to conduct business activities on a permanent basis. The businesses in which DIC must broaden its efforts are those that promise to improve both social value and economic value—in other words, are conscious of sustainability. With social imperatives related to concerns such as climate change, marine plastics, food safety and digitalization becoming increasingly urgent, we are taking decisive steps to hasten the qualitative transformation of our business portfolio. I am confident that these efforts will enable us to realize our vision for DIC in 10 years, which is to become a unique and trusted global company.

A balance of trust is also important for a company. To earn respect both as a manufacturer and as a global organization that contributes to society, it is crucial that we work to address a wide range of issues with an attitude that is recognized as apposite.

Every year, I ask our new employees to consider who does a company exists for ?
A company should be a place that enables individuals to reach their full potential. To ensure a management style that makes this possible, we will continue to prioritize two objectives: promote work style reforms with the aim of creating workplaces that enable all motivated, capable employees to exercise their abilities, and build a corporate culture that emphasizes a commitment to “doing the right thing and doing it right.”

With this in mind, I have three requests for you.
1. Be tolerant, flexible and accepting of other cultures;
2. Learn to appreciate diversity and develop the ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals; and,
3. Be aware of the importance of having a brand that is trusted by society.

In closing, I look forward to marshaling the diversity of new employees and working with all of you to help build DIC’s future as an excellent organization.