Toshiba's Turn to Reshuffle at the Top

Three years ago, as head of Toshiba's (TSBAa.BE) power business, Norio Sasaki orchestrated the tech conglomerate's $5.4 billion acquisition of Westinghouse's nuclear-power-plant business. Now, as Sasaki prepares to take over the president's post, he will have to show the same willingness to take chances as he tries to help overhaul the company after its biggest-ever expected annual loss.

On Mar. 18, Toshiba's president, Atsutoshi Nishida, said that he would step down in June after a four-year run. Nishida will become chairman and pass the company's top executive post to Sasaki, a former nuclear researcher and his hand-picked successor. Nishida said he offered the job to Sasaki, a senior vice-president, two weeks ago. "For a moment, I was hesitant," the 59-year-old Sasaki told a packed conference room at Toshiba's Tokyo headquarters. "There's a huge amount of pressure involved in taking over during this very tough period."