Makoto Itahashi is the Counsel to the Chairman and Vice Chairman and has served AFL in this capacity since 2006. In this role, he actively engages in strategic initiatives of several Fujikura group companies in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. As AFL has continued to grow, Itahashi has been instrumental in facilitating consensus and understanding between AFL’s management team and Fujikura’s leadership.

As a native of Japan, Itahashi joined Fujikura Ltd. in 1991. He began his career by marketing the company's flexible printed circuits and managing sales worldwide, successfully negotiating major contracts with leading laptop computer manufacturers, primarily in the US, and establishing business relationships that continue to thrive today. He then advanced to selling Fujikura's fiber optic product line, focusing on markets in China, Russia, and Asia. Itahashi's experience also includes collaborating on the formation of joint ventures for extra-high voltage power cables, industrial cables, and electrical distribution components and accessories in China.

Itahashi graduated from Konan University in Japan with a degree in International Business. He furthered his education at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing followed by a Master of Business Administration. In South Carolina, Itahashi actively participates in the Japan America Association of South Carolina.

< Back to Leadership Page