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Astellas is led by our Board of Directors and Top Management Team.
As of July 2025
As of April 2025
Astellas’ Top Management consists of the Representative Director/President and CEO and members who are in charge of each business area. These individuals also form the Executive Committee – a body for discussion on important matters in the global management of the Astellas Group.
Representative Director,
Chairman of the Board
Representative Director,
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Representative Director,
Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer (CPO)
Outside Director
Outside Director
Outside Director
Outside Director
Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member
Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member
Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member
Outside Director, Audit & Supervisory Committee Member
Outside Director
Outside Director
Representative Director,
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Naoki Okamura serves as the President and CEO of Astellas Pharma Inc, leading our efforts to implement the Corporate Strategic Plan 2021 and developing strategies for long-term growth.
Naoki began his career at Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (now Astellas Pharma Inc.) in 1986. In 2010, he took on the role of CEO for the U.S. subsidiary acquired by the company. In 2012, he was seconded to Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., where he held the position of Senior Vice President, overseeing business strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Upon returning to Astellas Pharma Inc., he assumed several key roles, including Vice President of Business Development, Vice President of Corporate Planning, and Corporate Executive, Chief Strategy Officer (CStO). In June 2019, he was appointed Representative Director, Executive Vice President, CStO, and in April 2023, he was appointed President and CEO.
Naoki started his career engaging with the back office of the sales division and he has gained valuable experience across various departments, particularly in corporate planning and business development. He places great importance on fostering dialogue with all stakeholders, continually enhancing his understanding of diverse perspectives and innovative ideas. To deliver VALUE to patients, he prioritizes initiatives that align with Astellas commitment to sustainable growth and the effective allocation of management resources.
Education: Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Tokyo
Representative Director,
Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer (CPO)
Katsuyoshi (Kats) Sugita serves as Chief People Officer at Astellas. His goal is to make Astellas the best place to work by unlocking the innovative potential held within the talented and diverse teams and by continually learning and growing with those around him.
Kats has over 30 years of Human Resources experience in pharmaceutical and technology sectors, including in Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Microsoft. He joined Astellas as Head of Human Resources in May 2021. In June 2023, he was appointed Representative Director, Executive Vice President, CPO & CECO.
As a senior HR leader, Kats helps shape the culture, creates clarity and generates energy as one team. Well versed in global leadership and communication, he has worked in Japan and the United States to lead global and regional projects in talent management, diversity & inclusion, data driven HR and HR best practice sharing.
Education: MBA, City University of London’s Business School; Bachelor of Psychology, Kyoto University
Chief Research & Development Officer (CRDO)
Tadaaki Taniguchi serves as Chief Research & Development Officer at Astellas.
Tadaaki joined Astellas in July 2022 and appointed Chief Medical Officer in October 2022 with more than 20 years of industry experience spanning research, development, and medical affairs. He has worked across a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, diabetes and respiratory disease etc., to deliver transformational medicines to patients. Prior to joining Astellas, Tadaaki held multiple senior leadership roles in major multinational pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., Japan and China operating at global and regional levels.
Tadaaki completed a Ph.D. in Medicine at Imperial College London and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Tottori University in Japan. As a surgical oncologist, he spent 10 years working in clinics and research laboratories. The knowledge and experience he gained contributed to his unique perspective on how global pharmaceutical companies can innovate to deliver breakthrough science by rethinking approaches to medicine that change the way diseases are treated.
Education: Ph.D. in Medicine, Imperial College London; Ph.D. in Medicine, Tottori University; M.D., Tottori University
Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMfgO)
Rao Mantri serves as CMfgO and oversees the technology and manufacturing strategy. Under his leadership, Astellas continues to accelerate product development through launch and ensure a reliable supply, leveraging our innovative capabilities across modalities.
Rao brings more than 24 years of leadership and experience across the pharmaceutical value chain, including global product development, manufacturing and supply chain management during his tenure at Bristol Myers Squibb. Over his career, he has contributed to the development and commercialization of many innovative pharmaceutical and biologic products. He joined Astellas in February 2025 and was appointed CMfgO in April 2025.
Rao’s strong expertise across modalities and technologies is complemented by his strategic insights, focused execution and ability to build across cultures and functions. He is committed to creating and delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world, with a sense of urgency.
Education: Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Honors), The University of Kansas; Executive M.B.A., Sloan School of Business, MIT
Chief Commercial & Medical Affairs Officer (CCMAO)
Claus Zieler serves as Chief Commercial & Medical Affairs Officer at Astellas.
Claus started his professional career as a management trainee at Schering AG in 1991, steadily progressing through roles in Sales & Marketing, R&D, Production, and general management across Europe, Latin America, the US, and Asia. He held general management roles at Bayer in Belgium, Japan, and Singapore, and at Schering AG in Germany and Argentina. He joined Astellas in 2019, and led the Established Markets (Europe, Canada, and Israel) and the International Markets region (across Asia, Russia, the Middle East, and Latin America) as a President. He has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Claus launched the Growth Strategy to achieve full brand potential through best-in-class customer engagement in 2023. He has since assembled cross-functional brand teams — co-led by Medical Affairs and Commercial —and implemented mindset and behavioral change to ensure that those closest to the customer are empowered to make decisions with the greatest possible impact on outcomes for patients.
Education: MBA, INSEAD, France; Master of Science in Molecular Biology, the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Chief Strategy Officer (CStO)
Adam Pearson plays a pivotal role in shaping our corporate strategy, spearheading initiatives in business planning, the development and execution of Primary Focus strategies, business partnerships, Rx+ business creation, Patient Centricity, and sustainability efforts.
Adam joined Yamanouchi (now Astellas) in 2004 after his tenure at Boston Consulting Group. Throughout his career, he has held several prominent positions, including Regional Senior Vice President (SVP) North Europe at Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. and General Manager for the United Kingdom at Astellas Pharma Ltd. In April 2020, he was appointed as SVP of Corporate Planning at Astellas Pharma Inc., and in April 2023, he took on the role of CStO.
With over 20 years of experience in strategic and operational roles within the life sciences sector, Adam has held key leadership roles across various countries, regions, divisions, and functions. He is also a strong advocate for patient centricity, drawing from his personal experiences as a patient.
Education: MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business; BA, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Oxford University
Chief Digital & Transformation Officer (CDTO)
Nick Eshkenazi is the Chief Digital & Transformation Officer (CDTO) at Astellas Pharma, leading the growth of the company’s digital and transformation capabilities to advance its strategic priorities. In his role, Nick collaborates with cross-functional teams to harness digital solutions that drive business goals and optimize operational efficiencies.
With over 30 years of experience in digital, technology, data, and operations across global organizations, such as Woolworths, Costco, PACCAR and USAA, Nick has held executive roles as CDTO, CDO, CIO, and CTO. In these positions, he has partnered with large multinational organizations, managed global teams, and successfully delivered strategic, transformational programs. He joined Astellas in November 2023 as Chief Digital Officer and was appointed CDTO in April 2024.
Nick is known for his innovation, exponential thinking, and strategic leadership. His innate curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning enable him to inspire confidence among both business and technology stakeholders. He effectively bridges the gap between these domains with his pragmatic, common-sense approach to transformation, innovation, and execution.
As a recognized thought and transformational leader, Nick is frequently called upon as a speaker and collaborator worldwide and serves as a Strategic Advisor to several company boards. In 2022 and 2024, Nick was recognized as the Top 10 Chief Digital Officer in APAC by CIO Outlook. In addition, in 2024, he was honored as CDTO of the Year (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing) by C-Suite Insider magazine.
Education: Master of Science in Computer Science, Technical University of Sofia
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Atsushi Kitamura serves as CFO and currently leads enterprise-level initiatives in corporate accounting, financial strategy, procurement, and finance and tax.
Atsushi began his career in finance with Procter & Gamble. He delivered successful profit turnaround for TNT Express Worldwide (Japan) Inc. also gained capital markets experience during his time at Skylark Holdings while successfully publicly relisting the company. Most recently, he was CFO / Board of Director at Pioneer Corporation, where he oversaw managing all financial related matters and intellectual property for the entire group. He joined Astellas Pharma Inc. as CFO in November 2023.
Atsushi served in senior finance positions for corporations across a diverse set of industries, including car electronics, food services, logistics, and general consumer goods manufacturing. He draws upon his extensive industry experience to support our business and help establish a foundation for sustainable growth through enhanced governance, aligning with Astellas' VISION of placing patient VALUE at the heart of our activities.
Education: Bachelor of Economics, the University of Tokyo
General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (GC & CECO)
Tatjana Dragovic serves as the General Counsel & Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (GC & CECO). She leads integrated risk functions which include Legal, Intellectual Property, Ethics & Compliance and Quality Assurance. This alignment aims to enhance agility in risk management, drive governance, and increase cross-functional collaboration, ultimately creating greater VALUE for patients.
Tatjana began her legal career as a product liability & mass torts litigation attorney at Sidley Austin, advising pharmaceutical, medical device, insurance, and commercial clients. She joined Astellas in 2007 as Senior Corporate Counsel, contributing to a broad array of significant business initiatives, including the acquisition of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In 2014, she transitioned to lead Compliance in the Americas and was appointed Head of Ethics & Compliance in 2018, where she has since led the function globally.
With over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Tatjana has a strong background in legal, ethics, compliance and other risk-related matters. She is skilled at navigating complex challenges while balancing risk mitigation with business priorities, always keeping patient needs and integrity at the forefront of decision-making. She is passionate about patients and leads with a strong patient focus that enables a culture of integrity, accountability, innovation, and empowerment.
Education: a licensed attorney in Illinois; J.D, summa cum laude, from Loyola University School of Law, Chicago; Bachelor of Science, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
