IWAO TOMITA

TOMITA--Iwao. It is with deep sadness that the firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC (hereafter Tohmatsu), the Japanese member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, announces the death of Iwao Tomita. He died on June 6, 2011, in Tokyo, surrounded by his family. One of the founding partners of the Japanese public accounting firm Tohmatsu, Mr. Tomita was 86 years old. He was a respected partner of Tohmatsu, and later a senior advisor to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International. In a final message to his family and colleagues, he said, "My mission is accomplished." That mission was to establish Tohmatsu as the leading public accounting firm in Japan, not only in size but also in professional standards and quality of service. One of Mr. Tomita's proudest moments was when Deloitte Haskins & Sells merged with Touche Ross in 1990, and the two international firms invited Tohmatsu to join them as an equal to form Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu International, which changed to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International in 1990. At the time, J. Michael Cook, chairman and CEO of Deloitte & Touche in the United States, referred to Tohmatsu as the crown jewel of the international organization. "We have had no more global citizen, and no one more committed to our global organization. Tomita deserves significant credit for the global growth of our services for Japanese headquartered companies," said Jim Quigley, global CEO of DTTL until May 31, 2011. Quoted in a history of the Japanese firm published in 1995, Edward Kangas, then chairman of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International, said, "Tomita-san has been a man of vision, a man who proposed practical implementation of his vision and a very good friend." Many people are visionaries and strategists, but they can't translate their ideas into action. Tomita-san has an incredible capacity to translate his strategy and vision into action in a powerful way." In 1967, the Deputy Minister of Finance asked Mr. Tomita to organize the first nationwide public accounting firm. It was to be established to accomplish two main objectives: the first, to be capable of reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States according to U.S. accounting standards; the second, to establish offices overseas. He allied himself with former Admiral Nobuzo Tohmatsu to found Tohmatsu in 1968. Three years later, Mr. Tohmatsu withdrew from the business due to an incapacitating stroke; Mr. Tomita continued pursuing their original goal of making a truly international accounting firm for Japan. Mr. Tomita later succeeded to the position of chief executive officer. In 1975, Tohmatsu became a member firm of Touche Ross International, and Mr. Tomita was asked to join the international Board of Governors. The alliance meant that, rather than establish separate offices as it had done in New York, Tohmatsu would instead send forth a wave of professionals to be assigned to Touche Ross offices worldwide, coinciding with the rise of the Japanese economy. What began as a firm with a few offices in Japan is today an organization with a workforce of over 6000, including 658 partners, and professionals posted on long-term assignments to more than 40 locations outside Japan where they serve the unique needs of Japanese companies operating overseas. Today, the founders' goal is realized: Tohmatsu is one of the largest and the most international professional services firm in Japan. From the founding of the firm, Mr. Tomita traveled extensively to establish Tohmatsu's presence abroad, beginning in San Francisco and quickly spreading throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Until months before his death, Mr. Tomita kept up a heavy travel schedule, averaging 150 days annually outside Japan. In the past decade he increased his efforts in Asia, where he saw the most growth potential. His ability to see and shape the future led him to send a Tohmatsu professional to the People's Republic of China as early as 1979 to start the long process of establishing an office in Beijing. Wherever he traveled, he met with Tohmatsu professionals assigned overseas, to offer advice and encouragement. "Tomita-san's extraordinary vision and courage as a founding partner of our Deloitte Japan Tohmatsu member firm and his global mindshare in his actions over many decades is a lesson for us all in As One behavior long before we termed this vision. We will miss his presence though will reap the benefits of his legacy for many years to come," said Barry Salzberg, global CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Mr. Tomita was preceded in death by Yoko Tajima Tomita, his wife of 54 years. He is survived by three daughters; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held June 10 at St. Ignatius Church in Tokyo. A memorial service will take place Tuesday, July 5, 2011, in Tokyo from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Imperial Hotel "Fuji No Ma."