Michael Woodford

Michael Woodford worked at Olympus Group for 30 years. At first, he was a medical equipment salesperson at the group subsidiary Olympus KeyMed. Later, he gradually promoted to the company's sales manager and sales supervisor, and was appointed as the company's general manager in 1990 at the age of only 29. With the significant development of the UK division of the group, in October 2004, Woodford became the main director of Olympus Medical Systems and was appointed as the executive director of the European division. In European companies, he vigorously promoted internal reforms, which doubled the company's operating profit within three years. During his tenure at a European company, he was also responsible for Olympus' medical and industrial operations in the United States, during which the company's sales and profits increased significantly. In April 2008, he served as the Executive Director and Chairman of Olympus Europa Holding, with full responsibility for the European medical, industrial, life sciences, and consumer goods businesses. He is also the main director of Olympus' headquarters in Japan. In April 2011, he was promoted to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Olympus Corporation. He was one of the only four foreigners to run a Japanese giant company, but he was the first Westerner to break through layers of hierarchy and leap from a salaried worker to a senior executive. On October 1st of the same year, he became the CEO of the company, but only two weeks later, on October 14th, Woodford was fired due to a confusing bill of over $1.5 billion and a demand for the resignation of the company's chairman and vice president. Woodford's career has many highlights. In March 1997, he accepted invitations from the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the UK Foreign Office to attend the Asia Europe Youth Leadership Seminar held in Miyazaki City and Tokyo as a representative of British industry. In July 1998, he was hired by the UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, McCartney, to join the Trade and Industry Working Group to develop a code of conduct for employee development. In November 1999, he was honored to be selected by the Mayor of London as an outstanding contributor to British society in the 20th century. The award ceremony was held at the mayor's residence, attended by the Queen of England and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. At Olympus, Woodford was the first to propose the CSR policy for corporate social responsibility. He works through his own efforts to reduce casualties caused by traffic accidents in the UK and around the world. In recognition of his help to British society, he was named on the New Year's Honors List in 2002 and appointed as a member of Parliament by the Queen of England. Between 2004 and 2008, Olympus KeyMed won the very famous Queen's Enterprise Award three times, with Woodford serving as the company's general manager at the time. In 2004, the company was awarded the Sustainable Development Award for the first time; In 2006, won international trade awards; Received innovation awards in 2008. The company has won three awards in a short period of time, which fully proves that the company under his leadership has an ultra-high level and excellent corporate style. In his bravery