Kao Changes Executive Officers and Corporate Executive Fellows

Dec 2nd, 2020

Hannah Fink

The changes will be in effect as of January 1, 2021.

Kao Corporation has announced changes of its executive officers and corporate executive fellows as of January 1, 2021.

Michitaka Sawada, representative director, president and CEO, will be director, chair.

Yoshihiro Hasebe, representative director, senior managing executive officer, will be representative director, president and CEO.

Current executive officers to be promoted

Hideaki Kubo, currently the executive officer; vice president research and development, global; responsible for research and development core technology
Toru Nishiguchi, currently the executive officer, president, consumer products, Asia; chairman of the board and president, Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd.; chairman of the board and president, Kao Corporation Shanghai; chairman of the board, Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; chairman of the board and president, Kao (Hefei) Co., Ltd.

Executive officers to be newly elected

Mami Murata, currently vice president, consumer products marketing emergence, global; vice president, consumer products marketing emergence brand management development, global
Natsumi Hotta, currently president, consumer products home care business, global
Akira Shimotoyodome, currently, president, consumer products health and wellness business, global

Corporate executive fellow to be newly elected

Akemi Ishiwata, treated as the same as the company’s executive officer

Corporate executive fellow to retire

Takuji Yasukawa

Executive officer to retire

Akemi Ishiwata, currently executive officer; senior vice president, corporate communications, global

Executive Officers and Corporate Executive Fellows as of January 1, 2021

President and CEO, Yoshihiro Hasebe, responsible for human capital development
Senior managing executive officer, Toshiaki Takeuchi, representative director, president, Kao Group Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.

Managing executive officers

Tomoharu Matsuda, president, consumer products, global; responsible for Kao Professional Services Co., Ltd.
Shigeru Ueyama, senior vice president, corporate strategy, global
Masakazu Negoro, senior vice president, procurement, global; responsible for accounting and finance
Osamu Tabata, senior vice president, supply chain management, global; responsible for TCR promotion
Yoshihiro Murakami, president, consumer products cosmetics business, global; senior vice president, consumer products-DX co-creation, global; representative director, president, Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.; chairman of the board, Molton Brown Limited
Hideaki Kubo, senior vice president, research and development, global
Toru Nishiguchi, president, consumer products, Asia; responsible for consumer products-Merries Business; chairman of the board and president, Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd.; chairman of the board and president, Kao Corporation Shanghai; chairman of the board, Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; chairman of the board, Kanebo Cosmetics (China) Co., Ltd.; chairman of the board and president, Kao (Hefei) Co., Ltd.

Executive Officers

Satoru Tanaka, president, consumer products, Americas and EMEA; chairman of the board, Kao USA Inc.; chairman of the board, OribeHair Care, LLC
Kenichi Yamauchi, senior vice president, accounting and finance, global; president, Kao America Inc.
Ryoichi Harada, senior vice president, enterprise information solutions, global
Hiroaki Taki, senior vice president, consumer products-marketing emergence, global
David J. Muenz, senior vice president, ESG, global
Akio Matsui, senior vice president, human capital development, global; president, Kao Group Corporate pension fund; chairman of the board, Kao America Inc.
Hideichi Nitta, vice president, supply chain management-demand and supply planning center, global
Masahiro Katayose, president, chemical business, global; chairman of the board, Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.; chairman of the board, Philippians Kao, Inc.; chairman of the board, Kao Chemicals Europe, S.L.
Shigeo Nakai, vice president, research and development-performance chemicals research, global; responsible for research and development-environmental new business
Hideki Mamiya, representative director, senior managing executive officer, Kao Group customer marketing Co., Ltd.
Masaru Takeyasu, senior vice president, legal and compliance, global
Hiroaki Yamaguchi, vice president, supply chain management-manufacturing plant center, global
Atsushi Koizumi, senior vice president, consumer products-business planning and management, global.
Kotaro Nuriya, president, consumer products-health and beauty care business, gloabal.
Motomitsu Hasumi, vice president, research and development-household products research, global; responsible for research and development-consumer products technology
Mami Murata, vice president, corporate strategy-strategic public relations, global
Natsumi Hotta, president, consumer products-hygiene and living care business, global
Akira Shimotoyodome, president, consumer products-life care business, global.