Takeda Announces President of Japan Pharma Business Unit Transition in April 2021

Takeda Announces President of Japan Pharma Business Unit Transition in April 2021


Calendar
March 15, 2021

- Milano Furuta Named as Next President of the Japan Pharma Business Unit with Masato Iwasaki to Remain a Member of the Board of Directors

OSAKA, Japan, March 15, 2021 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced that Milano Furuta, Takeda’s current global corporate strategy officer and chief of staff, has been appointed as president of the Japan Pharma Business Unit (JPBU) effective April 1, 2021. Masato Iwasaki will transition from the role on March 31, 2021. Mr. Iwasaki, who started with Takeda in 1985, will remain on Takeda’s Board of Directors and shift to a Japan general affairs role.

“With more than a decade at Takeda in a range of roles that transcend national and cultural boundaries, Milano has a proven track record, and I am confident that his exceptional leadership, character and business insight will help position the JPBU for new opportunities and growth on its transformational journey,” said Christophe Weber, Takeda president and chief executive officer. “I extend my congratulations to Milano on his new role, and I look forward to continuing to see him embody and live Takeda’s purpose to help achieve better health for people and a brighter future for the world.”

Milano Furuta joined Takeda in 2010, serving in a range of corporate strategy and planning and global business development roles, including multiple international functions in several countries including Japan, Switzerland, Mexico and Sweden. He has also led projects to optimize Takeda’s commercial organization and launch products in the areas of oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular and metabolism. Prior to joining Takeda, Mr. Furuta was engaged in investment and banking at an investment management firm in the United States and financial institution in Japan.

“I am honored for the opportunity to lead the JPBU on the next step in this journey as Takeda continues its global transformation,” said Milano Furuta, Takeda global corporate strategy officer and chief of staff. “As we celebrate 240 years in 2021, our purpose has never been more critical as we face new public health threats, like the current global pandemic, and growing unmet patient needs in a variety of therapeutic areas where Takeda is positioned to make a positive impact in Japan and globally.”

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to lead the JPBU and be a part of this incredible company over the past several decades,” said Masato Iwasaki, Takeda JPBU president. “I am grateful to our entire JPBU team for unrelenting hard work and dedication to our business under my leadership. Milano has been an important asset to the business and to me over the past several years, and his focus and drive will be critical in the continued transformation of the JPBU.”

“I also want to thank Masato for his immense contributions to Takeda and important leadership as he has played a critical role in helping to shape and transform Takeda into a global biopharmaceutical company,” added Mr. Weber. “He will continue to be an important asset to the company in his new role, and I am pleased that he is staying on as a member of the Board.”


About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetic and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people’s lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.

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