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President, Gamba Co., Ltd. Tadashi Ono

In sports and business, At Team Gamba Osaka pursue possibilities with a never-give-up spirit. I want to share joy with everyone.

I was appointed president of Gamba Osaka in April this year. Before At present, operation of the club is challenging due to the spread joining as vice president last year, I had never watched a soccer game. of COVID-19. Amidst these difficult times, I am very grateful I practically knew nothing about soccer. Then, I watched a J-League to over 100 of our partners for saying, "let's do our best together." match live for the first time. The different atmosphere from baseball and I let the players know, "don't forget that it is because of these the intense excitement of the spectators gave me goosebumps. It left me people, you can play soccer." I understand the players who, thinking, "What is this?!" Gamba Osaka is a club with history that has as professionals, want to make soccer the top priority. However, participated in the J-League since its foundation. It has many passionate by showing them the club's balance and getting them to fans. I have a sense of responsibility of managing such a club. understand the current situation, we are working together to I gained many experiences from playing baseball throughout high school, overcome this challenge by having players do things they can do university, and company teams. As a high school student, I attended themselves, such as transportation and laundry. PL Gakuen, and we won the championship. Due to back-to-back People around me say,"You have become president at a difficult victories where we came back from behind, we were called "Comeback time," but I don't feel that way. Everyone is suffering the same. PL." It was here that I learned firsthand the words, "If you never give up I think it is my job as the president to create an atmosphere for and keep fighting, something will happen." Playing at university and fans, partners, local governments, players, and staff to get company teams in an environment where losing was not an option was through this difficult situation as one team. also a valuable experience that is now part of who I am. Every time I Gamba Osaka's philosophy is "To create dreams and excitement remember my youth, where I played baseball day after day, I think I did in society through soccer." I feel a new and different satisfaction well to stick it out. But having a never-give-up spirit and overcoming this in managing a sports club that can revitalize society. From here has, without a doubt, given me a lot of confidence. on, I will continue with my starting point, the never-give-up After retiring from company baseball, I was involved in several businesses spirit. And someday, it is my wish to share the joy of winning working in sales at 's head office. For example, in the early days the league with everyone related to the team! of EV vehicles, we jointly developed automotive parts with automobile Interview: July 7, 2020 manufacturers, and we worked to increase our share of the global market. As the General Manager, I was able to expand a 30 billion yen business to 160 billion yen. I kept in mind the never-give-up spirit at this time also. A business won't grow if sales gives up. When we had an order, and internal resources had their hands full, I didn't give up there. I went Profile beyond the bounds of business units to create lines where we could get the order. I worked tenaciously, believing that it was possible. I think the same He graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Commerce thing is true for sports and business. If you are passionate but composed (now Department of Marketing), in 1984. and take action without giving up, then there is always a path through. While at Toyo University, he was a member I taught my employees about the never-give-up mindset, not just mental of the baseball team. After graduation, he continued to play baseball at Matsushita theory, but also adding my own experiences. Electric Industrial (currently Panasonic). After retiring as a player, he worked as a coach. Subsequently, he has devoted himself to business. He has been President of the J-League football club Gamba Osaka since April 2020. He is aiming to win the title.

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