Takeda Reshapes Leadership, Creates New Units Ahead of Fiscal 2026

Takeda will reorganize its executive leadership team and business structure effective April 1, 2026, as the company seeks to accelerate growth and decision-making amid a more complex global market.

The Japanese drugmaker will create an International Business Unit to oversee all markets outside the U.S., consolidating commercial operations that had been managed separately. The Japan Pharma Business Unit will report through the new group for execution and financial planning, while remaining led by Asuka Miyabashira, who continues as president of the unit and head of the Japan region. Giles Platford, currently president of Takeda’s Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, will lead the new international unit. Takeda said it is recruiting a successor to run the plasma therapies business.

The company is also establishing a Strategy & Portfolio Development function to integrate therapeutic-area strategy, portfolio decisions, product planning and business development. A chief strategy and portfolio development officer will be hired to lead the group. In addition, Takeda will form a Transformation Office to coordinate companywide change initiatives, including artificial intelligence efforts. That office will be led by Lauren Duprey, the current chief human resources officer, with a search underway for her replacement.

Several existing functions will see leadership changes or expanded roles. Global Supply & Quality will be led by Elaine Shannon, currently global quality officer. Global Medical will be elevated to an executive-level function under Chief Medical Officer Awny Farajallah. Global Legal, Ethics & Compliance will be led by Natalie Furney, Takeda’s current general counsel. The company is also recruiting a head of Global Communications & Governance.

Following the changes, Takeda’s executive team will include President and Chief Executive Christophe Weber; CEO-elect Julie Kim; Chief of Staff Akiko Amakawa; R\&D head Andrew Plump; leaders of the Japan, U.S., oncology and international business units; and heads of finance, digital and technology, supply and quality, medical, legal and transformation. Several roles—including human resources, plasma-derived therapies, strategy and portfolio development, and communications and governance—remain to be filled.

Julie Kim, who will succeed Weber as CEO, said, “The changes announced today are the catalyst for our next era, enabling simplicity, speed and efficiency – without sacrificing quality – to help us move at pace to bring life-transforming medicines to patients.”