Our leadership

Mutsuo Iwai assumed the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Company in March 2020.

He has experience of driving the core tobacco business as Representative Director and Executive Vice President of the Company even in unclear and uncertain operating environments, with his forceful execution of business backed by precise decision-making.

In addition, his broad and deep knowledge and insights cultivated through diverse experience both in Japan and overseas in areas such as the Food Business and Corporate Strategy have contributed to the strengthening of the supervisory function of the Group and relationships with stakeholders, which are essential to the improvement of the corporate governance of the Group going forward.

For this reason, we propose his reelection as a Member of the Board.

Having served important roles such as Administrative Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance during his long years of service with ministries and bureaus, Shigeaki Okamoto possesses considerable knowledge and experience in general national policies.

We propose his election based on our view that his broad outlook and high standing underpinned by his experience are essential to the further enhancement of the corporate governance of the Group.

Masamichi Terabatake was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January 2018, and then Representative Director and President in March of the same year.

He has used the extensive experience and his knowledge and powerful leadership in relation to global business management, accumulated in a range of duties such as the drawing up and execution of management strategy both in Japan and overseas, and the execution of the business of the International Tobacco Business in his role as Executive Vice President of JT International S.A., and in doing so has been a driver of the growth of the Group.

We judge that his extraordinary insights and wide-ranging outlook, together with his enhanced reforming capabilities, are indispensable for the management of the Group going forward, and hence we propose his reelection as a Member of the Board.

Kiyohide Hirowatari was appointed Executive Vice President of the Company in January 2018, and then Representative Director and Executive Vice President in March of the same year.

He has acquired leadership and wide-ranging knowledge in such areas of company law, business management and HR during his time serving in diverse and important roles, including Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Head of Tobacco Business Planning Division, Tobacco Business, and Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and has utilized them to maintain a foundation for the Company's sustainable growth and to draw up strategy.

We judge that his keen discernment and accurate decision-making, which is based on the knowledge and experience he has cultivated in a broad range of fields, will prove indispensable in the Group's management going forward, for which reason we propose his reelection as a Member of the Board.

After serving Vice President of M&S Strategy Department, Tobacco Business Division of the Company, and President and Chief Executive Officer of TS Network Co., Ltd., the Company's subsidiary, Kei Nakano assumed Senior Vice President, Communications in January 2016.

Since October 2019, he has served Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, using his strong leadership focusing on promoting initiatives for strengthening and advancing the Company's corporate governance including the enhancement of effectiveness of the Board of Directors, and projects to enhance corporate capabilities.

We judge that his extensive and deep knowledge in relation to overall management strategies and business management, strategic thinking and accurate decision-making based on his diverse experience will be indispensable in driving the Group's management further forward, and hence we propose his election as a Member of the Board.

Main Kohda assumed the position of Outside Director of the Company in June 2012. She did not engage in corporate management previously other than serving as an Outside Director or an Outside Auditor.

Nevertheless, we have benefited from her in-depth knowledge of international finance, her broad experience gained from serving on government examination committees and similar positions, and her deep insight and objective point of view that she has demonstrated through her activities as a novelist being reflected in the management of the Company and she has worked tirelessly to supervise business execution from a fair and independent standpoint.

We believe her wide-ranging experience and broad knowledge are essential for the Group management by the Company, and thus propose her reelection in expectation of her continuous contribution as Outside Director of the Company to improving corporate governance in the Group through her proactive recommendations and advice provided at the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Panel on Nomination and Compensation.

Yukiko Nagashima assumed the position of Outside Director of the Company in March 2019.

We have benefited from her experience in corporate management and execution of business in a wide range of fields, such as emerging businesses and temporary staffing and objective point of view based on her experience as a Member of the Audit and Supervisory Boards being reflected in the management of the Company and she has worked tirelessly to supervise business execution from a fair and independent standpoint.

We judge that her experience from the perspectives of both management and audit and a high degree of knowledge cultivated thereby will be essential in the Group's management.

For this reason, we propose her reelection in expectation of her continuous contribution as Outside Director of the Company to improving corporate governance in the Group through her proactive recommendations and advice provided at the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Panel on Nomination and Compensation.

Masato Kitera assumed the position of Outside Director of the Company in March 2021.

He did not engage in corporate management previously other than serving as an outside director or an outside auditor.

However, he held important positions over many years of service with the government, primarily in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With his extensive international experience and a high level of knowledge of international affairs cultivated during his diplomatic and other activities reflected in the management of the Group as it expands its business outside Japan at a time of globally increasing geopolitical risks, he has worked tirelessly to provide advice and oversight which contribute to the further enhancement of corporate governance.

We believe his high level of international experience and broad knowledge are essential for the Group management by the Company, and thus propose his reelection in expectation of his continuous contribution as Outside Director of the Company to improving corporate governance in the Group through his proactive recommendations and advice provided at the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Panel on Nomination and Compensation.

Having served as a president and representative director for a telecommunications company, Tetsuya Shoji has considerable experience, track record, and insight into corporate management.

We expect he, as Outside Director, will utilize his wide experience in areas such as corporate planning, human resources, global operations, and digitization promotion in the management of the Group as it expands its business outside Japan and regards IT/information security as one of the increasingly important management foundations in the future, and properly offer advice and oversight that contribute to the further enhancement of corporate governance of the Company.

For this reason, we propose his election.