Takeshi Niinami, chief executive of Japanese beverage giant Suntory, has resigned following a police investigation into his alleged possession of an illegal drug.
Company president Nobuhiro Torii, a member of Suntory’s founding family, confirmed the resignation but declined to specify the drug involved, citing the ongoing probe.
Niinami, 66, has led Suntory since 2014, overseeing a decade of strong growth across its whisky, beer, and non-alcoholic beverage businesses. He is also a respected voice in industry-government lobbying circles.
“He was a dynamic and decisive leader whom I respect greatly. Under his leadership, both sales and profits grew significantly,” Torii said.
Torii, already in a senior leadership role, will assume full responsibility for the company’s operations, including overseas businesses. He emphasized that despite Niinami’s many contributions, his resignation was “inevitable” due to governance concerns.
Suntory executives said the alleged drug may have been a supplement Niinami obtained personally, with Niinami insisting he did not know it was illegal. The police investigation began last month.
Vice President Kenji Yamada noted: “Regardless of whether he is found innocent or guilty, we feel he is not fit for the job.”
The announcement came after markets closed. Shares in Suntory gained 2.9% in Tokyo trading on Tuesday.
