BRIEF—Astellas appoints Kenji Yasukawa as president and CEO

Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) has announced that its board of directors approved a change in its representative director, president and chief executive naming Kenji Yasukawa to the post.

Mr Yasukawa, who brings more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, succeeds Yoshihiko Hatanaka, who will become chairman of the board.

The changes below enable Astellas to vigorously pursue the new strategic plan, which is set to start in the fiscal year 2018, aiming to realize the Astellas’ Vision of being on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.