West Japan Railway Co. announced that Executive Vice President Seiji Manabe will become its next president, effective on May 1, 2012. Manabe will succeed Takayuki Sasaki, who will step aside to the post of chairman. Manabe aims to nurture next-generation leaders to guide the company. Manabe joined the Japanese National Railways, the JR group's predecessor, in 1976 and took his current position in June 2009.