Osamu Suzuki, who led the Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor for more than four decades and transformed into a global powerhouse, died on Wednesday in Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo. He was 94.

Osamu Suzuki, the charismatic former boss of Suzuki Motor Corp. who helped turn the Japanese mini-vehicle maker into a globally competitive company, has died, the company said Friday. He was 94.

Osamu Suzuki served as the CEO of Suzuki Motor from 1978 to 2015. He remained a senior advisor of the company until 2021, when he retired at age 91.

Osamu Suzuki, the visionary behind Suzuki Motor’s global rise and India’s automotive transformation, passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 94 due to lymphoma. His tenure as CEO and chairman for over four decades reshaped the company,