Tokyo, Apr 01, 2009 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) ----JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI: undefined, undefined, undefined%), the wholly owned subsidiary of JCB Co. Ltd. (JCB: undefined, undefined, undefined%), announced the appointment of Mr. Koremitsu Sannomiya as President and Chief Operating Officer at its annual shareholders' meeting in Tokyo held today with immediate effect. Mr. Sannomiya succeeds Mr. Kenji Seto, who has served in the position since June 2007. Mr. Sannomiya will report to Mr. Tamio Takakura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Since Mr. Sannomiya joined JCB in 1985, he has greatly contributed toward the company's growth as a comprehensive payment solution provider, engaging in a wide array of JCB business encompassing international sales and marketing, corporate strategy planning, and strategic market development. During his 24-year career at JCB, Mr. Sannomiya had held a number of key positions, including Executive Vice President since 2000, providing visionary leadership in key areas and vital issues: corporate planning, supervising JCB's Next Generation System migration project, and developing emerging markets such as small value and utility payment. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer at JCBI, he served as Board Member, Executive Officer, and Head of Strategic Market Development Headquarters Division at JCB, where he helped to substantially expand the horizon of the credit card payment market in Japan by marketing new solutions and services, including widening the small value market with the QUICPay(TM: 67, 3.56, 5.61%) contactless smart card payment solution, and undertaking Eco-Action-Point program platform operations on behalf of Japan's Ministry of the Environment. Also, in the early years when JCB first took the path to go international as an independent brand and Japan's only international card brand, Mr. Sannomiya dedicated seven years to the company's International Department, and was involved in establishing the first JCB Plaza, the exclusive cardmember lounge now located in multiple major cities around the world, embodying the JCB brand service philosophy.

"It is an honor for me to be appointed to serve in this position. I feel deep respect and appreciation for our predecessors who have built up the JCB brand into a major international credit card brand, ever since their decision to go global as an independent brand in 1981. Moreover, I would like to express my gratitude and confidence in our partners, as today's JCB brand would be nothing without their understanding and cooperation", said Mr. Sannomiya.

"In recent years, we have experienced changes in the card industry in many countries and regions around the world, and consumer needs have become highly varied. JCB has a diverse and unique business as Japan's only international credit card brand. Taking advantage of our strength and experience, we would like to share with our partners worldwide new technologies, expertise in issuing and developing value added co-branding programs, and multiple business relationships with Japanese corporations. As JCB is a brand born in Asia, first we would like to enhance its footprint in this region through strengthening our issuing partnerships. In the Americas and EMEA, we will continue to increase the convenience of the JCB card by improving the acceptance network in response to customer needs."

JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI: undefined, undefined, undefined%), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd. (JCB: undefined, undefined, undefined%), also headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the country's only international credit card brand. Aiming to maintain and expand the distribution of the JCB card, and to increase JCB brand value, JCB established JCBI to carry out operations related to the JCB brand, JCB cards, and JCB merchants outside Japan. JCB is also a major issuer of JCB cards and acquirer of JCB merchants as well as the JCB brand-holder. Under the leadership of Mr. Tamio Takakura, President and Chief Executive Officer, JCB is further strengthening its solution business going beyond the credit card business.

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its acceptance network includes 12.76 million merchants and over a million cash advance locations in 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with more than 60.2 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 350 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, visit: www.jcbcorporate.com/english.Note: JCB statistics included in About JCB are as of the end of September 2008.

Contact:

Kazumi Kinoshita
Supervisor
Corporate Planning
JCB International Co., Ltd.
+81-3-5778-8390
kazumi.kinoshita@jcb.co.jp


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