Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd <5202.T> named former DuPont

executive Craig Naylor as its new president and CEO on Thursday, making him the second non-Japanese to head the Tokyo-based glass maker.

Nippon Sheet Glass had been searching for a new chief executive since Stuart Chambers, a British national, stepped down late last year to spend more time with his family.

Naylor, 61, a U.S. citizen, will join the company on May 1 and assume the responsibilities of president and CEO on June 29, Nippon Sheet said in a statement.

Foreign CEO's are rare among Japanese firms. Among the handful atop large companies are Nissan Motor Co's <7201.T> Carlos Ghosn and Howard Stringer of Sony Corp <6758.T>.

Naylor joined DuPont in 1970 and steadily rose up the ranks of the chemicals giant. He most recently served as group vice president of U.S.-based DuPont Electronic & Communication Technologies from June 2004 to December 2006.

Naylor was also a non-executive director at Delphi Corp from February 2005 to September 2009, Nippon Sheet said in a release.

DuPont