Matsuda, 70, will head the committee of outside experts charged with directly advising MMC's board of directors on ethics and quality related issues. The committee will also work closely with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Promotion Office to push through reforms in corporate culture and business ethics as well as keep a watch on quality issues throughout the company.

"Mitsubishi Motors will not be able to regain consumer trust overnight. It will be a long, hard process. But as the chairman of the Business Ethics Committee, I will put everything into helping the company in its drive to reform corporate culture and improve quality," said Matsuda.

"The committee will watch the company's internal reforms from an outside perspective and I intend to be completely frank with the board in telling them what needs to be done in terms of compliance."

MMC is currently strengthening its organization for auditing quality and corporate governance and the Business Ethics Committee will play an integral role in ensuring the company upholds its pledge to place top priority on compliance, quality, and its customers.

MMC deeply regrets its past actions in handling recalls in Japan and is working to rid itself of the corporate culture that allowed such a situation to occur. MMC is now implementing concrete steps to ensure total legal and ethical compliance and the committee will scrutinize the company's efforts from the viewpoint of the public.

Matsuda brings with him a proven track record in the legal profession. Before joining the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan as governor in 1996 he worked as a public prosecutor and held various posts at the Japanese Ministry of Justice. He graduated from Chuo University in March 1957 with a bachelor of law degree.

Business Ethics Committee positioning