TOKYO -- New NHK prexy Shigeo Fukuchi has answered criticisms that he doesn't have enough experience for the job by pulling veteran broadcaster Yoshinori Imai out of retirement to be his executive veep.

Fukuchi is a former beer company exec with no broadcast or journalism experience.

Imai, 63, joined NHK after graduating from elite Keio U. and built a career as a foreign reporter, including postings in Washington and London.

In 2000 he was appointed director general in charge of international planning and broadcasting and in 2003 became a chief commentator. He retired in December.

Both Fukuchi and Imai face a major task in rehabilitating the pubcaster, which has been rocked by scandals, most recently the revelation that at least three NHK staffers made stock market killings using an inhouse editing system to trade on inside info.

The scandal caused Fukuchi's predecessor, Genichi Hashimoto, to resign four days before he was due to stand down to take responsibility.