Former Panasonic president Matsushita dies at 99

TOKYO — TOKYO (AP) - Panasonic Corp. says its second president, who helped lead the Japanese electronics company for half a century as it grew into a global brand, has died. Masaharu Matsushita was 99.

Matsushita was the son-in-law of Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita, whom he succeeded as president in 1961.

The company said Tuesday that Masaharu Matsushita died Monday at Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Osaka, central Japan, a facility founded by his father-in-law.

Son of a painter, Masaharu Matsushita studied law at what later became the University of Tokyo and worked at a major Japanese bank before joining Panasonic. In Japan, men sometimes adopt their wife's family name.

He is survived by his wife, Sachiko, and son, Panasonic Vice Chairman Masayuki Matsushita.

Other details were not disclosed for privacy reasons. Funeral plans were undecided.