Takeshi Niinami
Takeshi Niinami is a Japanese business executive, who was president, CEO and representative director of Suntory from 2014 until his resignation in September 2025. Suntory is the largest alcoholic beverage maker in Japan, and holds the brands Yamazaki and Jim Beam in its portfolio.
Early life and education
Niinami studied economics at Stanford University and Keio University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1981. In 1991, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.Career
In 1981, he began his career at Mitsubishi Corporation.In 1995, he was appointed CEO of the Sodex Corporation he founded, a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Sodexo from France in the field of hospital catering. In 2002, he was appointed president and CEO of Lawson Inc., the second-largest convenience store operator.
In October 1, 2014, he became president and CEO of Suntory Holdings Limited. He declined the position of CEO of Nissan Motors in 2019.
He was a member of the Industrial Competitiveness Council of Japan, and is a member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy as a senior economic advisor to the Prime Minister, and chairman of the committee for promoting integrated economic and financial reforms.
Additionally, he is the vice chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and a member of the Global Agenda Council on Japan of the World Economic Forum.