Kao Corporation TSE:4452
Kao : Changes of Members of the Board of Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members
Source: MarketScreener
Changes of Members of the Board of Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members
December 1, 2025
Kao Corporation (the "Company"- Ticker Code:4452) would like to announce the candidates for Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members to be proposed at the 120th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled to be held in late March 2026.
The Company selects nominees through a transparent and objective process administered by the Board of Directors and the Committee for the Examination of the Nominees for Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members. The Company believes that, to discuss from multiple angles the direction and soundness of its management strategy and to appropriately oversee and audit its execution, it is essential that individuals with diverse knowledge, experience, and capabilities-both from inside and outside the Company-participate, thereby fostering lively and constructive discussion.
In particular, the Company expects Outside Directors to oversee and advise management and, from an independent position, to appropriately reflect stakeholder opinions in the deliberations of the Board of Directors. Accordingly, the Company evaluates candidates with emphasis on relevant board and management experience, expertise in addressing critical management issues, and a high level of engagement, specifically, a sincere and constructive approach to dialogue.
For the current nominations, taking into account the current business environment and strategic focus, and recognizing that strengthening global growth and marketing through digital transformation (DX) remains important, the Company has nominated candidates with a view to building the optimal composition of the Board of Directors and the Audit & Supervisory Board to enhance corporate value. These changes will be decided by relevant resolutions at the Company's 120th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
Member of the Board of Directors to be newly nominated
Name
Current Position(s) as of December 1, 2025
Shinji Okuyama*
Representative of a global IT company
Member of the Board of Directors to retire
Name
Current Position(s) as of December 1, 2025
Osamu Shinobe
Outside Director, Kao Corporation;
EXECUTIVE ADVISOR, ANA HOLDINGS INC.
Audit & Supervisory Board Members to be newly nominated
Name
Current Position(s) as of December 1, 2025
Shuji Tamaki**
Representative Director, Riscarre Research Co., Ltd.; Attorney at Law admitted in
the State of New York
Audit & Supervisory Board Members to retire
Name | Current Position(s) as of December 1, 2025 |
Nobuhiro Oka | Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member, Kao Corporation; Attorney-at-Law; Audit & Supervisory Board Member, Kao Group Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.; Outside Director, Yamatane Corporation; Professor, Keio University Law School |
*Nominated as an Outside Director
** Nominated as an Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member
Members of the Board of Directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members (After the 120th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders)
Members of the Board of Directors
Title after the 120th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders | Name |
Representative Director, President and CEO | Yoshihiro Hasebe |
Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer | Masakazu Negoro |
Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer | Toru Nishiguchi |
Director, Corporate Executive Fellow (Responsible for Corporate Branding) | Lisa MacCallum |
Outside Director | Eriko Sakurai |
Outside Director | Takaaki Nishii |
Outside Director | Makoto Takashima |
Outside Director | Sarah L. Casanova |
Outside Director | Shinji Okuyama |
Audit & Supervisory Board Members
Title after the 120th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders | Name |
Full-time Audit & Supervisory Board Member | Yasushi Wada |
Full-time Audit & Supervisory Board Member | Mami Murata |
Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member | Saeko Arai |
Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member | Junya Naito |
Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member | Shuji Tamaki |
The Company will report to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. that the above five (5) Outside Directors and three (3) Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members are Independent Outside Directors and Independent Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members respectively. Ms. Eriko Sakurai is expected to be the Chairperson of the Board.