Yasuchika Hasegawa (長谷川閑史), former president and CEO of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, died on 3 July. His death was announced on 11 July. The funeral will be held for close family members only, and no memorial gathering will be held.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced on 11 July that former President and CEO Yasuchika Hasegawa (長谷川閑史) had died on 3 July. Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he served as president from 2003 to 2014 and promoted the company’s global expansion.
After joining Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in 1970, Hasegawa held a series of positions of responsibility, including in its European operations. After becoming president, he expanded the company’s overseas business and advanced the internationalisation of its management, carrying out major M&A transactions including the acquisition of US-based Millennium Pharmaceuticals in 2008 and Swiss company Nycomed in 2011. He also served as chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives from 2011 to 2015. He left the presidency in 2014 and subsequently served as chairperson and senior corporate adviser.
Following Hasegawa’s death, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company CEO Julie Kim praised his decisiveness and leadership, commenting that he had led Japan’s business community. The funeral will be held for close family members only, and visits, condolence flowers and monetary gifts will not be accepted.
Related information includes Hasegawa’s activities after leaving the presidency and the background to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company’s global expansion. This article, however, focuses on the fact of his death, the arrangements for the funeral, his principal career and achievements, and the tributes paid to him.