Japanese beauty giant Shiseido Company has announced the appointment of Kentaro Fujiwara as Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and CEO, effective 1 January 2025.
This follows the retirement of Chairman and CEO Masahiko Uotani, who will step down on 31 December 2024.
As reported, Uotani, who has been at the helm of Shiseido since 2014, will transition to the role of Senior Advisor for the Shiseido Group. In this capacity, he will provide strategic advice, support talent development and engage in external relations at the request of the management team.
His formal retirement as a director is scheduled for the conclusion of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in March 2025.
Fujiwara – currently Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, President and COO – joined Shiseido Group in 1991. He has held several leadership positions in France, Germany and South Korea over the years.
In 2015, he was appointed as Vice President Corporate Strategy Department and Group Leader of Digital Strategy.
In 2016, he became Chairman of the Board and President of Shiseido China. In 2020, he was promoted to Shiseido Group China Region CEO and Senior Executive Officer.
The leadership transition is the culmination of a carefully planned five-year succession strategy initiated by Shiseido in 2019. In November 2022, Fujiwara was appointed as a CEO candidate and took on the role of President and COO. Since then, he has been working closely with Uotani to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities.
This succession plan reflects Shiseido’s commitment to sustainable leadership and continuity in its corporate strategy. The Board of Directors has formally adopted the resolution to appoint Fujiwara as the new CEO.
Shiseido’s strategic focus on innovation and global expansion under Uotani’s leadership has positioned the company for continued success. Fujiwara, with his extensive experience within Shiseido, is expected to drive the company forward, building on the robust foundation laid by his predecessor.
This leadership change marks a new chapter for Shiseido, as it continues to strengthen its position in the global market, ensuring sustained growth and innovation in the beauty industry. ✈
