Astellas Pharma Makes Changes to Management Structure

Astellas Pharma Inc. has made following changes to its management structure effective October 1, 2022.

Top Management

Dr. Tadaaki Taniguchi, MD, Ph.D, will be appointed as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). He joined Astellas as Executive Advisor on July 1, 2022. He is an internationally trained surgeon in the field of oncology with extensive industry experience in developing and commercializing innovative medicines as a senior leader in major global pharmaceutical companies. He will be based in the U.S.

Bernhardt Zeiher, M.D., the current CMO, will retire on September 30, 2022.

As of Ocober 1, 2022, the name of Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CAO & CECO) will be renamed to the Chief People Officer and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CPO & CECO). Katsuyoshi Sugita will be appointed to CPO & CECO as of October 1, 2022. He has held senior HR leadership positions in the pharmaceutical and technology industries and joined Astellas as Head of Human Resources in May 2021.

Since joining Astellas, Mr. Sugita has leveraged his extensive experience and expertise in the area of Human Resources to promote innovation and the active participation of human resources toward the realization of the Organizational Health Goals set forth in “Corporate Strategic Plan 2021”.

Fumiaki Sakurai, the current CAO & CECO, will retire on September 30, 2022.
 
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Sakurai and Dr. Zeiher for their tremendous contribution to Astellas,” said Kenji Yasukawa, President and CEO, Astellas. He added, “I expect Dr. Taniguchi to focus on accelerating the clinical application of science, enriching our clinical portfolios and delivering VALUE to patients. I am also confident that Mr. Sugita will promote the realization of Organizational Health Goals  by leveraging his extensive career in the area of HR. United under this new leadership, Astellas is aiming for achieving the goals set forth in Corporate Strategic Plan 2021.”