Executive moves at Astellas

Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 45023) says it has been working on its Corporate Strategic Plan 2018 and Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 (CSP2021) since fiscal year 2018, when Kenji Yasukawa was appointed as president and chief executive, to realize its VISION “On the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.

As a result, Astellas today announced that executive vice president Naoki Okamura will be promoted to the position of president and CEO, effective April 1, taking over the reins from Mr Yasukawa, who will step aside as chairman.

In a press state, Astellas declared: “Fiscal year 2023 is the right time to go on the aggressive to further accelerate growth, and Naoki Okamura will take over as new president and CEO. Astellas decided it is best for it to consider and implement strategies for achieving CSP2021, which ends in fiscal year 2025 and long-term growth beyond that under the new leadership. The environment surrounding the company is changing rapidly, such as increasing geopolitical risks and changes in the finances and markets of each country due to the COVID-19 crisis, but the new top management has the ability to flexible in response to such changes.”