Transition to a management system with two representative executive officers at Menicon Co., Ltd. Menicon appoints Hidenari Tanaka as the Chairman and CEO and Koji Kawaura as the President and COO

Menicon Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 21-19, Aoi 3, Naka-ku, Nagoya; President and CEO: Hidenari Tanaka) announced that, based on the resolution of meeting of the board of directors held on February 22, 2023, the company will change the management from the current system with one representative executive officer to a system with two officers starting April 1, 2023. At the same time, Hidenari Tanaka will be appointed as the Chairman and CEO and Koji Kawaura will be appointed as the President and COO.

 

Background to the transition

Menicon Co., Ltd. was founded in 1951. The consolidated sales of the group now exceed 100 billion yen and the number of employees working for the group has increased to approximately 4,000.

Since Tanaka, the current President and CEO, was appointed as the President and CEO in 2000, he has expanded and stabilised our domestic business by developing a flat-rate contact lens subscription system, namely the "MELS Plan," as the pillar of our business. He has also played an active role in the globalisation of our businesses through the establishment of local subsidiaries around the world and carrying out active M&A.

The increase in the global myopia population has become a social issue in recent years. While the domestic contact lens market continues to grow, the overseas market has expanded significantly, mainly in Asia, in the context of economic growth.

To achieve further growth, while also responding quickly to these changes in the global market environment, we have decided to strengthen the management system.

 

Outline of the new management system

From April 1st of this year, we will establish a new management system with two representative executive officers – Chairman and CEO, and President and COO – to further expand the business.

Tanaka, the new Chairman, will supervise the overall management of the Group as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Kawaura, the new President, will supervise the overall management of the Group's business operations to realise the Menicon Group's Vision2030 / medium-term management plan as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

 

A message from Hidenari Tanaka, the new Chairman and CEO

"The new President Koji has experienced a wide range of global operations for over 30 years, primarily in business planning, marketing, development, production, and supply chains. I expect that he will take on a new challenge to realise the Vision2030 / medium-term management plan and take Menicon to the next growth stage through his youthful sensibility and flexible ideas in addition to his rich management experience.”

 

A message from Koji Kawaura, the new President and COO

"Since its establishment in 1951, Menicon has continued to produce, create, and take on challenges in various business activities related to products, technology, and marketing. The percentage of our overseas sales of contact lenses was 26% for the fiscal year ending in March 2022; but the overseas market for contact lenses was approximately four times as large as that of Japan. I feel our group has sufficient potential to expand our businesses overseas, and we will strengthen our overseas sales and supply chains. To address the social issue of the increasing global myopia population, we will actively work on a new area of myopia progression control in addition to the conventional correction of myopia. I am conscious about supporting the lives of as many customers worldwide as possible by providing creative, high-quality, and innovative products and services. Menicon will continue to take on challenges under the new management system in the future."

 

 

[Biography] New Chairman and CEO: Hidenari Tanaka

1987: Graduated from School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University

1987: Joined Menicon Co., Ltd.

1994: Director of Menicon Co., Ltd.

1999: Vice President of Menicon Co., Ltd.

2000: President of Menicon Co., Ltd.

2004: Chairman of the Japan Contact Lens Association

2010: President and CEO of Menicon Co., Ltd. (current position)

2017: Adviser of the Japan Contact Lens Association (current position)

 

 

[Biography] New President and COO: Koji Kawaura

1992: Graduated from Waseda University Faculty in Law

1992: Joined Menicon Co., Ltd.

2006: Deputy Managing Director of Menicon Singapore Pte. Ltd.

2010: Managing Director of Menicon Singapore Pte. Ltd.

2013: Executive Officer and Director of Area & Products Marketing Strategy Office, Menicon Co., Ltd.

2015: Executive Officer and Director of Global Marketing Office, Menicon Co., Ltd.

2016: Executive Officer and Director of R&D Division, Menicon Co., Ltd.

2017: Senior Executive Officer and Director of Manufacturing and R&D Head Office, Menicon Co., Ltd. (current position)

2017: Vice Chairman, the Japan Contact Lens Association (current position)

2021: Managing Director of Menicon Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (current position)