Sunao Manabe

Sunao Manabe has been Executive Chairperson and CEO of Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd since April 2023. He served to the company as President and COO from 2017 to 2019, and President and CEO from 2019 to 2023. Dr. Manabe started his career at Sankyo as a researcher in 1978. In 2005, he was appointed as Sankyo’s Vice President of Medicinal Safety Research Laboratories and continued this role after Daiichi and Sankyo’s integration in 2007. Starting from 2009, he held various management roles, including Vice President of Global Project Management Department, Head of Group HR & CSR, and Vice President of Corporate Strategy Department. In April 2014, Dr. Manabe took responsibility for Japan Company as President, and Business Intelligence Division as well; in June 2014, he was assigned as Director of Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd. One year later, he became Senior Executive officer, in charge of Global Sales & Marketing. In 2016, He was promoted to Executive Vice President, responsible for General Affairs & Human Resources Division as well as Medical Affairs Division. He has also been appointed to President of The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association of Japan and Vice President of International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association since May 2021 and January 2023, respectively. Dr. Manabe received DVM degree in 1977 and PhD degree in 1988 from Veterinary Science, the University of Tokyo, and MS degree in Medical Sciences, the University of Tsukuba in 1982. Also he was based in the Ohio State University from 1988 to 1990 as a visiting scientist of College of Veterinary Medicine.