Messages from Outside Officers
Further strengthening the foundation to achieve sustainable growth

OBAYASHI Hidehito

Flexible research and development unconstrained by frameworks
Nissan Chemicalʼs distinctive feature lies in its flexible and comprehensive capabilities in which the four business divisions of Chemicals,Performance Materials, Agricultural Chemicals, and Healthcare function in a mutually complementary way, like the wheels of a fourwheel drive car, in response to changes in the economic and social environment. The Groupʼs strength further rests in the fact that thePlanning and Development Division and laboratories have established a system tostrongly promote the creation and development of new materials and technologies byexchanging skills and human resource beyond these four business divisions. And basedon my own many years of experience in R&D, I feel that the high reliability of the Materials Analysis Research Department and the Toxicology & Environmental Science Department plays an extremely important role in quality assurance of developed products. The
Internal Audit Department and outside directors also actively exchange opinions on aregular basis, and I am convinced that the mindset of fostering unwavering trust in quality throughout the Company is growing.
The speed and depth of future technological development, such as introduction ofAI and promotion of digital transformation, continues to accelerate at an increasing rate.
While introducing innovative products based on our R&D capabilities with a broad perspective that clearly understands the ideals of a future world, Nissan Chemicalʼs longterm business plan, Atelier2050, requires flexibility to accurately respond to the paradigm shift in technology by promptly incorporating an awareness from a different
perspective into R&D. To that end, it is necessary to take measures that appropriately
nurture and engage highly specialized human resources who can play an active role
globally under a system that transcends conventional frameworks. I will offer advice
and guidance so that a diverse range of human resources full of individuality and vitality
Outside Director
can flourish to generate highly agile research and development that quickly produces
products with new social value.

KATAOKA Kazunori

Nissan Chemical Corporation

41

Integrated Report 2023

Nissan Chemical works in a wide range of business fields, including Chemicals, Performance Materials, Agricultural Chemicals, andHealthcare. As an outside director, I am expected to provide opinions and suggestions so that the Companyʼs corporate management isconducted from the perspective of whether the provision of products and services ineach field meets customer needs, and whether they contribute to the existence and development of humanity and the protection of the global environment. With my manyyears of experience as a public prosecutor squaring up to injustices in society, I believethat I have been able to bring a certain viewpoint on whether decisions are being madeat the Board of Directors with a long-term perspective and multifaceted approach.
In such a chaotic and uncertain world, I intend to discuss how we can develop andimprove our superior technical capabilities and R&D capabilities for the next generation.
So that the perspective of a third party, so often overlooked, is not lost, I will contribute to ensuring the effectiveness of the Companyʼs corporate governance with a Boardof Directors that respects diverse opinions in an open and natural atmosphere.
In addition, the Company outlined its Diversity Statement in April 2021, to promote
initiatives for a healthy work-life balance. Last year, I had a lunch meeting with female
employees at the head office, and I was able to see that female employees raising children are capable of balancing their work life with childcare. Going forward, I would liketo continue to make various proposals with the aim of creating a workplace environment where women can work more easily.

Outside Director

NAKAGAWA Miyuki
Aiming for more effective governance:
As a bridge between the workplace and management
While the Board of Directors is responsible for making decisions on important management matters and supervising the execution of duties by directors and executive officers, the Audit & Supervisory Board is responsible for auditing the execution of duties by these directors. I believe that Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members should conduct audits from an independent standpoint of the Company
by leveraging their strengths of not working for the Company, and from a more objective and professional standpoint based on their work experience outside the Company.
Although I have no actual experience working in Nissan Chemical, I am able to understand present actual work conditions, difficulties, concerns, and issues at each sitethrough annual on-site inspections of each plant, laboratory, sales office, and head office
department. In addition, I am making use of my experience in sales, planning, human resource, and systems in my previous jobs to provide in-depth communication and advice
during my on-site inspections.
At the Board of Directors, I ask various questions to check whether sufficient consideration has been given, especially in deliberations on management policies and large investment projects. By doing so, I hope to facilitate discussions so that everyone at theBoard of Directors can make decisions based on a true understanding of the matters inhand. Moreover, I feel that more effective decision-making can be achieved by providing
opinions and suggestions where necessary based on my perspective from on-site inspections and individual work experience.
In addition to the Board of Directors, I actively attend various committees such as
the management meeting and the Sustainability Promotion Committee where I strive
for better decision-making by asking questions and giving my opinion. And in terms of
Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member
my on-site inspections, I also examine from various perspectives and through open dialogue whether managementʼs decision-making has permeated to the workplace, andwhether management is making decisions based on present workplace conditions.

TAKEMOTO Shuichi

Nissan Chemical Corporation

42

Integrated Report 2023

Value Creation & Growth Strategies

Nissan Chemical is a development-oriented company that focuses resources on research and development in order to achieve sustainable growth. Until now, we have expanded and grown the business operation by developing new businesses and products in response tochanges in society. In order to fulfill our social responsibilities into the future, we must further enhance governance from all angles inour business. To that end, I will provide supervision and advice on measures on executive side from a broad social perspective.
I also believe that sharing the knowledge I have gained from my many years of experience in R&D, as well as factory management and corporate management, with themanagement of Nissan Chemical, will lead to sustainable growth and at the same timestrengthen our corporate structure. My activities are centered on the Board of Directorsand the Nomination and Remuneration Advisory Committee, but I will actualize thosethrough on-site visits and various internal meetings.
Nissan Chemicalʼs financial strategy is extremely sophisticated, and quick decisions
are made on business structural reforms, research and development strategies, andchanges in the social environment to enable sustainable growth. I would like to actively
disclose my experience in this regard. I will continue to focus on strengthening measures as we face challenges in implementing Group-wide strategies that form our business foundation, for example, with consolidated management, capital investment, andsafety and health.
As the social environment changes on a global scale, prompt management decision-making and execution are crucial to fulfill the social responsibilities expected of us.
Hence, I will do whatever I can to establish “right and wrong over profit and loss” and“business basics and ethics” as Nissan Chemicalʼs values, and to make Nissan ChemiOutside Director
cal a company with integrity where each and every employee can work vigorously.

Contributing to the maintenance and development of the next generation humanity and the global environment