Daiichi Sankyo has appointed Hiroyuki Okuzawa, currently the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Sunao Manabe, currently Daiichi Sankyo’s  Executive Chairperson and CEO, effective April 1, 2025.  

Dr. Manabe will transition from his current role of Representative Director, Executive Chairperson and CEO to Representative Director and Executive Chairperson while Okuzawa will transition to Representative Director, President and CEO. 

Okuzawa joined Daiichi Sankyo in 1986 and has served as Representative Director, President and Chief Operating Officer since 2023. He also held the role of Chief Financial Officer for two years and other senior leadership roles in international business, corporate strategy, and human resources during his tenure at Daiichi Sankyo.  

This transition in April 2025 will occur as Daiichi Sankyo enters the final year of its current five-year business plan and it starts full-scale preparation for its next five-year business plan (FY 2026-2030). 

Source: Daiichi Sankyo