Taizo Nishimuro, Ex-Head of Toshiba, Japan Post, TSE, Dies at 81

(Bloomberg) -- Taizo Nishimuro, who yielded enormous influence over corporate Japan for decades as head of Toshiba Corp., Japan Post Holdings Co. and the nation’s stock exchange, has died. He was 81.

His death was confirmed by Toshiba spokesman Hirokazu Tsukimoto yesterday, though the cause and date weren’t disclosed.

Nishimuro had a four-year stint as president of Toshiba, and also served as chairman and then as an adviser to the company, a position he held until his death. He became chairman of Tokyo Stock Exchange, and took over as president of the bourse in 2005 after the previous president resigned to take responsibility for multiple computer breakdowns, including one that halted trading for more than four hours.

Nishimuro then oversaw the listing of Japan Post Holdings as its president, until he stepped down last year for health reasons.