Osamu Suzuki, who played a pivotal role in the rise of Suzuki Motor Corporation, died on Christmas according to an announcement made by the company on Friday. He was 94 years old.

Suzuki held the position of CEO at Suzuki Motor from 1978 until 2015, and he passed away due to malignant lymphoma, a form of cancer affecting white blood cells that leads to lumps forming in the lymphatic system and other organs.

He continued to serve as a senior advisor for the company until his retirement in 2021 at the age of 91. His eldest son, Toshihiro Suzuki, is currently the CEO of the company.

The company announced that funeral services for Suzuki will be a private event for family members, who have requested to forgo condolence visits, messages, monetary offerings, or flowers, as stated in the press release.

Who was Osamu Suzuki?

Osamu Suzuki was born on January 30, 1930, in Gifu, a region located in central Honshu, Japan. He attended Chuo University Law School in Tokyo before starting his career at Suzuki Motor in 1958.

Suzuki’s entry into the company coincided with his marriage to Shoko Suzuki, the granddaughter of Suzuki Motor’s founder, Michio Suzuki. At the time, Shoko was leading the company as president, according to information from Suzuki Motor.

During Osamu Suzuki’s tenure, the company expanded operations to various countries, including the United States, Australia, India, Pakistan, Spain, New Zealand, France, Germany, China, Canada, Hungary, Egypt, Vietnam, Italy, Thailand, and Argentina, as reported by Suzuki Motor.

As per CBS, the company’s revenue increased more than tenfold to approximately $19 billion during the 2000s while Suzuki was at the helm.

Suzuki Motor’s origins date back to 1909 when Suzuki Loom Works was founded, according to the company’s history. Initially, the firm produced looms before transitioning into the automobile sector.

It wasn’t until 1955 that Suzuki entered the automotive industry, unveiling the Suzulight, a compact two-door vehicle.