New Advanced Technology Team Propels Emerging Technology Business Forward

LOS ANGELES, May 5 /PRNewswire/–JCB, one of the five international payment brands, announced a management realignment reinforcing the importance of advanced payment technologies. Masahiro Omoto was appointed executive vice president and general manager of the Advanced Technologies Department. His responsibilities include smart card migration, secure e-commerce and contactless payment as well as other emerging technologies. Omoto is succeeded by Hitoshi Shioda, senior vice president, overseeing advanced technology for JCB’s International Department.

Omoto has spent 16 years of his 18-year career with JCB in the International Department, making significant contributions in expanding the JCB brand in the overseas market. From 1988-1995, he was based in London and was responsible for JCB business in the EMEA region. Upon returning to Japan, he was in charge of International Systems & Operations and business development for the U.S. market. During the last four years, he has been responsible for smart card migration outside of Japan, including roll-outs and pilots in Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. In his new assignment, Omoto will be responsible for increasing JCB’s brand penetration with emerging technologies, including smart cards and e-commerce, both domestically and internationally.

Omoto’s successor, Hitoshi Shioda, also built his business career in London, responsible for the EMEA region for eight years. Upon returning to Japan in 2001, he was responsible for smart card migration in the EMEA and Asian & Pacific regions. He currently has responsibility for all emerging technologies business outside of Japan.

With this considerable international experience, JCB expects the new organization to broaden its range of expertise in advanced technologies, which will expand JCB’s business and influence in the industry worldwide. JCB will continue to expand internationally by using smart card and other emerging technologies expertise accumulated in Japan.

In the America’s, Tac Watanabe and Julie Krueger continue to be responsible for emerging payment technologies and infrastructure, and work closely with Hitoshi Shioda to accomplish JCB International’s worldwide objectives.

About JCB

JCB is one of the five global payment brands, and is the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 10.43 million merchants, spans 189 countries and territories, and serves over 45 million card members worldwide. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 300 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its card member and merchant coverage. In Japan, JCB has issued nearly 10 million chip-based credit cards since December 2001. For further information, please visit the JCB International homepage at http://www.jcbinternational.com.