Astellas Appoints New CEO; Daiichi Sanyko Names New President

Astellas Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo have separately made leadership changes.  

Astellas Pharma has announced that Naoki Okamura, currently Representative Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, will take over as President and CEO, effective April 1, 2023.  He will succeed Kenji Yasukawa, Astella’s Current President and CEO, who will become Representative Director and Chairman of the Board. 

Okamura joined Astellas 1986 and has held various leadership positions over his 37 years of service before eventually reaching the position of Representative Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer in April 2022. 

Daiichi Sankyo also makes executive changes 
In a separate development, Daiichi Sankyo has announced the appointment of a new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective April 1, 2023. The company has appointed Hiroyuki Okuzawa, currently Director, Senior Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Planning & the Management Division, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as President and COO. In addition, Sunao Manabe, Representative Director and current President & CEO, will take on the additional role as Executive Chairman with Okuzawa taking on the role of President in addition to his role of COO.  

Okuzawa join Daiichi in 1986 and was appointed to his current role as Director, Senior Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Planning & the Management Division and CFO in April 2022.  

Source: Astellas and Daiichi Sankyo