Introduction: Takeda Pharmaceutical has made history by naming Julie Kim as its new CEO, making her the first woman to lead the company in its 244-year history. As head of Takeda's US business, Kim will succeed Christophe Weber, who became the drugmaker's first non-Japanese CEO in 2015. The Rise and Fall of Takeda: Takeda has undergone significant changes under Weber's leadership, including the $62 billion acquisition of British rival Shire in 2019. However, its share price has underperformed, falling almost 30 percent over five years. The company's US-listed shares have dropped by a similar margin during the same period. Focusing on Gender Diversity: The Japanese government wants companies to increase the proportion of female executives to 30 percent or more by 2030. In fiscal 2023, however, only 16.2 percent of Japanese firms had women in executive positions. This is compared with rates of 30-40 percent in North America and Europe. Julie Kim's Qualifications: Kim has the qualifications needed to lead Takeda into a new era. She has extensive experience in global pharmaceuticals, having worked at companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Her appointment will be voted on by shareholders in June 2026. Conclusion: Takeda's decision to choose Kim as its new CEO is a step towards greater gender diversity in Japanese business leadership. It sends the message that women are capable of leading major corporations, even those with deep roots and traditions. This could encourage other companies to follow suit and promote women into senior positions

Introduction: Takeda Pharmaceutical has made history by naming Julie Kim as its new CEO, making her the first woman to lead the company in its 244-year history. As head of Takeda's US business, Kim will succeed Christophe Weber, who became the drugmaker's first non-Japanese CEO in 2015. The Rise and Fall of Takeda: Takeda has undergone significant changes under Weber's leadership, including the $62 billion acquisition of British rival Shire in 2019. However, its share price has underperformed, falling almost 30 percent over five years. The company's US-listed shares have dropped by a similar margin during the same period. Focusing on Gender Diversity: The Japanese government wants companies to increase the proportion of female executives to 30 percent or more by 2030. In fiscal 2023, however, only 16.2 percent of Japanese firms had women in executive positions. This is compared with rates of 30-40 percent in North America and Europe. Julie Kim's Qualifications: Kim has the qualifications needed to lead Takeda into a new era. She has extensive experience in global pharmaceuticals, having worked at companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Her appointment will be voted on by shareholders in June 2026. Conclusion: Takeda's decision to choose Kim as its new CEO is a step towards greater gender diversity in Japanese business leadership. It sends the message that women are capable of leading major corporations, even those with deep roots and traditions. This could encourage other companies to follow suit and promote women into senior positions