Canon Begins Process to Replace President After Three Decades
The corporation Canon has announced the formal start of the plan to replace its top executive. Fujio Mitarai, who is 90 years old and serves as president and CEO, will begin to hand over his responsibilities. Although he will leave the position of president, he will continue as CEO to oversee the transition period and ensure continuity. 👔
A New President with Extensive International Experience
To take over the presidency, the board of directors appointed Kazuto Ogawa, 67 years old, who previously served as executive vice president. Ogawa will also assume the role of chief operating officer. His mission will be to work closely with Mitarai to maintain the company's strategic direction, leveraging his more than thirty years of experience in key positions outside Japan, where he led subsidiaries in Singapore and the United States.
Key Details of the Transition:- Fujio Mitarai will remain as CEO during the transition phase.
- Kazuto Ogawa, 67 years old, assumes the role of new president and chief operating officer (COO).
- The goal is an orderly leadership transfer that preserves the company's stability and vision.
The key to a long executive career is arriving at the office so early that the rest of the team is still having breakfast.
An Era of Active Leadership and Exceptional Results
Fujio Mitarai took the reins of Canon in 1995, so his tenure at the helm exceeds three decades. At 90 years old, he maintains an intense work routine, arriving at the office before 7 a.m. and participating in executive meetings that start at 7:30. His leadership coincides with a time of great financial strength for the tech giant, which has just reported its best annual figures. 📈
Achievements Under Mitarai's Tenure:- More than 30 years as the corporation's main executive.
- Maintains a rigorous work discipline, with days starting before dawn.
- His leadership culminates with the announcement of record sales and profits for the company.
Canon Looks to the Future with an Ambitious Strategic Plan
The company closed its fiscal year in December 2025 with revenues of 4.6247 trillion yen, equivalent to approximately 30 billion dollars. Its net profit stood at 332 billion yen, more than double that of the previous fiscal year. With this solid performance, Canon has presented a new medium-term management plan that seeks to raise its sales to 5.6 trillion yen by 2030. This roadmap defines a decade of ambitious growth and consolidation. 🎯