You are about to leave www.astellas.com and enter a third-party website. Astellas is not responsible for the content or services on the third-party website.
Would you like to continue?
Astellas is committed to providing timely and accurate information about our business, science and products. This section offers global resources for investors, journalists and media professionals. News and resources from our local affiliates can be viewed in the Local news section. If you are not an investor or journalist, click here.
TOKYO, April 27, 2026 – Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, “Astellas”) today announced that at a meeting of its Board of Directors held today, it decided a change in Directors as stated below. This change is subject to approval at the 21st Term Annual Shareholders Meeting and a decision at the Board of Directors meeting, both scheduled on June 19, 2026.
1. Candidates for Directors (excluding Directors who Are Audit & Supervisory Committee Members)
| Name | Current Position | |
| Kenji Yasukawa | Reelection | Representative Director, Chairman of the Board |
| Naoki Okamura | Reelection | Representative Director, President and CEO |
| Katsuyoshi Sugita | Reelection | Representative Director, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer |
| Masahiro Miyazaki | Outside Reelection |
Outside Director, Kurita Water Industries Ltd. |
| Yoichi Ohno | Outside Reelection |
Visiting Professor, Social Medicine, Research Administration Center and Medical Education Center, Saitama Medical University |
| Andreas Busch | Outside Reelection |
None |
| Mark Enyedy | Outside Reelection |
Non-Executive Director, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Non-Executive Director, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. |
The current position of the candidates for outside Directors describes significant concurrent positions at other organizations pursuant to the Companies Act.
2. Candidates for Directors who Are Audit & Supervisory Committee Members
| Name | Current Position | |
| Rika Hirota | Reelection | Director, Full-time Audit & Supervisory Committee Member |
| Tomoko Aramaki | Outside Reelection |
President, Aramaki CPA Office Outside Director, EXEO Group, Inc. Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member, TRE HOLDINGS CORPORATION |
| Shigeki Takahara | Outside New Candidate |
None |
The current position of the candidates for outside Directors describes significant concurrent positions at other organizations pursuant to the Companies Act.
3. Retiring Directors
| Outside Director | Takashi Tanaka |
| Outside Director | Eriko Sakurai |
| Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member | Mika Nakayama |
4. The Board of Directors as from June 19, 2026 (planned)
Kenji Yasukawa (Representative Director, Chairman of the Board)
Naoki Okamura (Representative Director, President and CEO)
Katsuyoshi Sugita (Representative Director, Executive Vice President)
Masahiro Miyazaki (Outside Director)
Yoichi Ohno (Outside Director)
Andreas Busch (Outside Director)
Mark Enyedy (Outside Director)
Rika Hirota (Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member)
Rie Akiyama (Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member)
Tomoko Aramaki (Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member)
Shigeki Takahara (Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member)
<Reference>
Brief Biographies of New Candidates for Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member
Name: Shigeki Takahara
Date of birth: November 12, 1958
Resume, position and responsibilities at the Company:
| April 1981 | Joined NEC Corporation |
| July 1998 | Senior Manager, Corporate Finance & IR Division, NEC Corporation |
| March 2005 | Director, Field Accounting, Pfizer Japan Inc. |
| December 2006 | Operating Officer, Head of President Office, SSP Co., Ltd. |
| June 2007 | Corporate Officer, CFO, MISUMI Group Inc. |
| January 2009 | Director, CFO, Accounting & Finance Lead, Wyeth K.K. (current Pfizer Japan Inc.) |
| February 2011 | Director and Operating Officer, CFO, Accounting & Finance Lead, Pfizer Japan Inc. (resigned in February 2020) |
| April 2020 | Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Planning & Finance, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. |
| June 2021 | Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief of Corporate Planning, Finance, HR & Administration, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. |
| April 2022 | Representative Director, Vice President Executive Officer, Chief of Corporate Planning, Finance, HR & Administration, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. |
| April 2024 | Representative Director, Vice President Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. |
| July 2025 | Corporate Advisor, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. (present post) |
About Astellas
Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. Learn more at www.astellas.com.
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas’ intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
Contacts for inquiries or additional information:
Astellas Pharma Inc.
Corporate Communications
+81-3-3244-3201
Follow us
