Ken Moroi, former president of Taiheiyo Cement Corp. and a former vice chairman of a major business lobby, died from lymph tumor on Dec. 29, sources close to the businessman said. Moroi was 78.

Moroi joined the Industrial Bank of Japan, now part of the Mizuho Financial Group, after graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1953. He transferred to Chichibu Cement, now Taiheiyo Cement, in 1967. The company was founded by his grandfather.

He was president of the company for 10 years from 1976 and chairman for another decade from 1986.