Since joining the Company, Yoshinori Matsuzaki built his career as Store Manager, and contributed to the development of the Beauty & Youth business as General Manager of the Beauty & Youth Division. Subsequently, he assumed the position of Director in June 2018 and led the Company’s mainstay business as General Manager of Business Unit I supervising all businesses targeting the trend-consciousness market. He assumed the position of Representative Director and President in April 2021. As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since then, he has been playing the role of the highest level decision-maker and supervisor of business execution within the Group’s management. Demonstrating strong leadership, he executed the divesture of unprofitable businesses and stores, which led to an improvement in gross margin due to higher inventory efficiency, thereby achieving a recovery of the Group’s performance, which had been sluggish during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is in charge of the overall management of the Group for the achievement of the new medium-term management plan.

Since joining the Company, Tatsuya Kimura has built his career as Store Manager and contributed to the development of the Green Label Relaxing business as General Manager of the Green Label Relaxing Division. He assumed the position of Director in June 2018 and led the Company’s mainstay business as General Manager of Business Unit II responsible for supervision of all businesses targeting the basic trend-conscious market. Since April 2021, as Chief Operating Officer (COO), he has been responsible for the supervision of business execution related to the Company’s supply chain. He has been promoting digital transformation (DX) of the Company’s infrastructure, including the construction of a new e-commerce site, digitalization of product procurement, and modification of the core system for product control, and contributing to improved operational efficiency and business productivity. He is in charge of building the value chain of the Group for the achievement of the new medium-term management plan.

Since joining the Company, Takeo Nakazawa has built his career in the Finance and Accounting Department and contributed to the improvement of the Company’s financial infrastructure, including accurate investment decision-making and risk control. Subsequently, he assumed the position of Executive Officer responsible for the Finance and Accounting Department and the Planning and Management Department in April 2020, and has contributed to the enhancement of the corporate value of the entire Group through the accurate allocation of investment in growth engines. Since April 2021, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), he has been responsible for the supervision of the administrative functions throughout the Company, including the Company’s risk management and business accounting. Based on his experience and expertise in finance, he was instrumental in maintaining the Company’s financial stability and overcoming the deterioration of its financial performance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He is in charge of finance and governance throughout the Group for the achievement of the new medium-term management plan.

Having worked as a business manager and director of multiple apparel companies, Tanaka is an executive officer who has the most extensive experience in product planning and development in the Company. With his knowledge and experience, he has contributed to the development of the Company’s businesses. He has strengthened both planning performance and creativity, which caused the Company’s labels for women make great strides. With his strength in developing supply chains, reforming the organization of the product division, and selecting and developing human resources, he has played a leading role in the Company’s core businesses while demonstrating his ability as a man of action. As Chief Merchandising Officer (CMO) and an executive officer familiar with MD, his future mission is to establish a system that enables the development and creation of products based on the voice of customers at shops, and thereby create value.

Yukari Sakai has experience as director and audit and supervisory board member at other companies, abundant finance-related knowledge, including expertise in financing and accounting matters, and various viewpoints from the perspective of diversity. The Company appointed her as outside director (Audit and Supervisory Committee members) in the belief that she would leverage her abundant experience and knowledge to execute the Company's business and fulfill the function of control and oversight over management, and she was elected in the 33rd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. She satisfies the Independence Determination Standards for Independent Officers set forth by the Company.

Yusaku Kurahashi has been engaged in lawsuits and other dispute cases, M&A, corporate restructuring, and corporate legal affairs as a lawyer and has broad experience, including participating in third-party committees in corporate scandal cases. The Company appointed him as outside director (Audit and Supervisory Committee member) in the belief that he would leverage his extensive specialized knowledge to enhance the Company's corporate governance and other matters, and he was elected in the 33rd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. He satisfies the Independence Determination Standards for Independent Officers set forth by the Company.

Shiho Takano has a wealth of experience in marketing, branding, new product development and more, as well as extensive knowledge as a management executive for many years, acquired through her tenure in several operating companies in the food and cosmetics industries. The Company appointed her as outside director (Audit and Supervisory Committee member) in the belief that she would leverage her extensive experience and knowledge to offer objective and neutral advice, etc. on overall corporate management from a broad range of viewpoints that are not bound by the industry in which the Company operates and that she would help further strengthen the sound and effective management of the Company. Subsequently, she was elected in the 33rd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. She satisfies the Independence Determination Standards for Independent Officers set forth by the Company.

Matsumoto was among the second group of new graduates who joined the Company. He is the only executive who has developed a career path not as a manager but as an expert. After working in sales and product planning, he has engaged in the designing of brand concepts and given directions as Brand Director for many years, and contributed to the enhancement of brand value by improving products, store interiors, and visual promotions. As Chief Creative Officer (CCO) in charge of overseeing the whole business and corporate branding, his future mission is to take the lead in the field of creativity, which plays a key role together with business in a fashion company and brand, and thereby make UNITED ARROWS a dazzling brand.

Yuji Suzumura, having joined the Company as a prospective Chief Information Officer (CIO) in January 2021, possesses extensive practical and management experience as head of the information system department at a major distribution and retail company and an electronic component manufacturer. Additionally, with the ability to put diverse human resources together, which he developed at a global company where he previously worked, he has fulfilled a wide range of responsibilities in the IT realm such as in infrastructure, security, applications and architecture. Notably, he has been taking the lead in large projects including the replacement of the Company’s e-commerce (EC) and merchandise management systems. His upcoming mission as CIO is to draw up an IT strategy based on a long-term vision and a medium-term management plan, and to lead the drive to increase operational efficiency through promotion of digital transformation.

Tan joined the Company as an accounting staff member, and since then, he has headed the Investor Relations (IR) Department of the Company for many years. He has made outstanding achievements as an IR specialist, which include: Corporate Value Improvement Award from Tokyo Stock Exchange (2012), Porter Prize (2013), Best IR Award from Japan Investor Relations Association (2014). Behind this track record lies the great trust stakeholders, such as investment analysts and institutional investors, have built up in him based on his strong sense of ethics, altruism, and enthusiasm for social contribution. As Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in charge of not only IR but also corporate planning and the sustainability division, his future mission is to create the social value that lies ahead of corporate value. He is expected to achieve both high business performance and sustainability without trading off either.

Mariko Yamasaki, who joined the Company as a new graduate employee in 1996 through its 2nd annual recruitment campaign, acquired practical experience in publicity and advertising in the Sales Promotion Department and became the Department Manager of the Public Relations Department in 2006. Since then, she has consistently held management roles in the Corporate Planning Department, UNITED ARROWS Business, the Human Resources Department, etc. She excels in value creation for intangible assets including our brands, corporate culture, intellectual property and human resources, and as a female manager with child-rearing experience herself, she has formidable competence for conveying messages both within and outside the Company.
She will supervise the Human Resources Division as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), and her mission is to enhance the corporate value of the Company in the medium to long term, responding to corporate and social challenges by increasing the value of our human resources.