Astellas Announces Major Management Restructuring Effective April 2025

Astellas Pharma Inc. has announced a significant management restructuring effective April 1, 2025, aimed at streamlining research, development, commercialization, and compliance to accelerate patient-centric drug discovery and delivery.Key leadership changes include:

• Naoki Okamura will continue as President and CEO, reinforcing Astellas’ strategic vision and global growth.
• Tadaaki Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D. appointed Chief Research & Development Officer (CRDO) to unify R&D efforts.
• Claus Zieler appointed Chief Commercial & Medical Affairs Officer (CCMAO) to integrate commercial and medical functions.
• Rao V. Mantri, Ph.D. appointed Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMfgO) to oversee product development, manufacturing, and supply.
• Tatjana Dragovic appointed General Counsel & Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (GC & CECO) to consolidate legal, compliance, and quality assurance.
• New Chief People Officer (CPO) to be appointed, leading global HR strategy to foster a strong corporate culture and talent development.

With these structural changes, Astellas will eliminate the CMO, CCO, and Chief Scientific Officer (CScO) roles, with Yoshitsugu Shitaka, Ph.D., Hideki Shima, and Catherine Levitt set to retire by March 31, 2025.

This transformation reflects Astellas' commitment to innovation, operational efficiency, and patient-focused healthcare solutions.