#102 Akio Morita (Sony)

Forty years ago, a small group gathered in a burned out department store building in the war devastated downtown Tokyo. Their purpose was to found a new company. And their optimistic goal was to develop the technologies that would help rebuild Japan's economy. In this early gathering was a young engineer. A Kio Marita.

Then just twenty five years old. Today, that company is one of the most powerful and respected multinational corporations in the world. Sony. And Akiamurita is its outspoken chairman. The Sony story is one of consistently high quality merchandise and phenomenally successful marketing strategies masterminded by Marita.

Who realized he would have to create the markets for Sony's unprecedented product. Marita's striking departure from the traditional Japanese business practice of making decisions by committee led to the spectacular success of the Sony Walkman. Which was his own idea.

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