Daiichi Sankyo's Leadership Transition: Hiroyuki Okuzawa Assumes CEO Role as Sunao Manabe Transitions to Executive Chairperson

Japanese pharmaceutical giant Daiichi Sankyo has initiated a significant management restructuring, with Hiroyuki Okuzawa stepping into the Chief Executive Officer position effective April 2025. The leadership change marks a deliberate succession strategy as the company navigates a critical juncture in its corporate roadmap. Sunao Manabe, the outgoing CEO, will assume the role of Representative Director and Executive Chairperson, allowing the organization to leverage his strategic expertise in a governance capacity while enabling fresh executive leadership.

Strategic Succession Planning to Accelerate Growth

The Board of Directors formalized this leadership change during their January meeting, viewing it as essential to solidify achievements in the current fiscal year and fortify the management framework. Okuzawa, who is 62 years old, brings four decades of institutional knowledge to the role, having joined Daiichi Sankyo in 1986. His career trajectory within the organization encompasses multiple senior positions, including Chief Financial Officer and most recently, President and Chief Operating Officer since 2023. This internal promotion underscores the company’s confidence in developing talent from within its ranks.

Aligning Leadership with Dual Business Plan Cycles

The timing of this transition carries particular significance as Daiichi Sankyo enters the concluding phase of its FY2021-2025 strategic initiative while simultaneously preparing for the FY2026-2030 planning cycle. Sunao Manabe’s stewardship oversaw the rapid and global expansion of the company’s oncology portfolio, positioning it as a cornerstone growth driver. Okuzawa’s appointment ensures continuity of this momentum while establishing groundwork for the subsequent five-year blueprint. In his inaugural statement, the new CEO outlined an ambitious agenda: “I will harness Daiichi Sankyo’s scientific and technological capabilities, cultivate a globally distributed talent ecosystem, and craft a 2035 vision alongside our next strategic plan to continue enhancing quality of life across the world.”