Julie Kim takes helm as Takeda (TAK) President & CEO amid board refresh
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that Julie Kim has been formally appointed Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, completing an 18‑month CEO transition. Shareholders elected her as an internal director at the 150th Annual General Meeting, after which the Board appointed her as CEO.
Former President & CEO Christophe Weber retired from the company and the Board upon conclusion of the meeting. The company highlighted that it has three major product launches planned in the next 12 months and a pipeline of five additional late‑stage innovative assets. The Board now has 11 members, including eight external directors, and key committees are composed solely of external directors.
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Insights
Orderly CEO transition completed with reinforced independent board structure.
Takeda has completed an 18‑month CEO transition by appointing Julie Kim as Representative Director, President & CEO following her election as an internal director at the 150th Annual General Meeting. Former CEO Christophe Weber retired from both management and the Board.
The Board structure emphasizes independence, with eight external directors out of 11 and all Audit and Supervisory, Nomination, and Compensation committees composed solely of external directors. Three new external directors with experience in U.S. healthcare, Asia‑Pacific governance and global R&D have joined.
Management points to three major launches planned in the next 12 months and five additional late‑stage assets in the pipeline, framing this leadership change within a growth roadmap. Subsequent company filings may provide quantitative detail on how new leadership and the refreshed Board influence execution against these plans.
Key Figures
CEO ADS holdings: 173,773 ADSs
Planned major launches: 3 launches
Late-stage assets: 5 assets
+4 more
7 metrics
CEO ADS holdings
173,773 ADSs
Julie Kim’s ADS holdings as of filing date
Planned major launches
3 launches
Planned in the next 12 months
Late-stage assets
5 assets
Additional highly innovative late-stage pipeline assets
Board size
11 members
Total Board of Directors members after changes
External directors
8 directors
External directors out of 11 Board members
New external directors
3 directors
Bruce Broussard, Koichiro Kimura, Paul Stoffels
Annual General Meeting
150th meeting
Shareholder meeting at which Julie Kim was elected
Key Terms
Representative Director, Audit and Supervisory Committee, Nomination Committee, Compensation Committee, +1 more
5 terms
Representative Director financial
"Julie Kim was officially appointed Takeda’s Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer."
A representative director is a company leader who is legally authorized to act and sign agreements on behalf of the corporation, similar to a captain who can steer the ship and make binding calls for the whole crew. Investors care because this person’s decisions, public statements, and legal responsibility directly affect the company’s strategy, risk exposure and reputation, and their authority determines who can commit the company to deals or liabilities.
Audit and Supervisory Committee financial
"At the Board of Directors and the Audit and Supervisory Committee meetings following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders..."
An audit and supervisory committee is a board-level group that checks a company’s books, internal controls, and management decisions to help ensure financial reports are accurate and risks are controlled. Think of it as a combined watchdog and accounting review team that holds executives accountable and flags problems early, which matters to investors because it strengthens trust in financial statements and lowers the chance of surprise losses or fraud.
Nomination Committee financial
"The Audit and Supervisory Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Compensation Committee will be composed solely of external directors..."
A nomination committee is a small group of board members that screens, selects and recommends people to serve on a company’s board of directors and oversees succession planning for top executives. Think of it as a hiring panel for the board that checks skills, independence and fit so the leadership mix supports the company’s goals. Investors care because the committee shapes who sets strategy, manages risk and protects shareholder interests.
Compensation Committee financial
"New Assignment of Nomination Committee and Compensation Committee Members (Effective June 24, 2026)"
A compensation committee is a group within a company's leadership responsible for setting and reviewing how much top executives and employees are paid, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits. It matters to investors because fair and effective pay decisions can influence a company's performance, leadership motivation, and overall governance, helping ensure that the company’s management is aligned with shareholders’ interests.
forward-looking statements financial
"This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements..."
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What leadership change did Takeda (TAK) announce in this Form 6-K?
Takeda announced that Julie Kim has been officially appointed Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer. She was elected as an internal director at the 150th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and the Board then appointed her as President & CEO, completing an 18‑month transition.
What happens to former Takeda CEO Christophe Weber under the new leadership structure?
Christophe Weber retired from Takeda and from the Board of Directors upon conclusion of the 150th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The filing notes his 12 years of service, during which he expanded Takeda’s global scale and pipeline, before handing leadership to Julie Kim.
What growth plans does new Takeda CEO Julie Kim highlight in the filing?
Julie Kim states that Takeda has three major launches planned in the next 12 months and a robust pipeline of five additional highly innovative late‑stage assets. She describes a growth roadmap built around two strategic horizons aimed at long‑term profitable growth and increased patient impact.
What are Julie Kim’s current and past roles within Takeda mentioned in the filing?
Julie Kim previously led the Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit and the U.S. Business Unit, also serving as U.S. Country Head. She became CEO‑Elect in 2025 and, effective June 2026, serves as Representative Director, President & CEO, and Director and Chief Executive Officer of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
How many ADSs of Takeda does new CEO Julie Kim hold according to the document?
The attachment states that Julie Kim holds 173,773 American Depositary Shares (ADSs) of Takeda. It also notes that she holds no ordinary shares as of the filing date. This equity position aligns her financial interests with the company’s longer‑term performance and shareholder outcomes.
FORM 6-K
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of June 2026
Commission File Number: 001-38757
TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LIMITED
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
1-1, Nihonbashi-Honcho 2-Chome
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8668
Japan
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
Information furnished on this form:
EXHIBIT
Exhibit Number | ||||||||
| 99.1 | Takeda Announces New Assignments of Directors and Appointment of Julie Kim as Representative Director, President and CEO | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LIMITED | |||||||||||
| Date: June 24, 2026 | By: | /s/ Norimasa Takeda | |||||||||
Norimasa Takeda Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller | |||||||||||
News Release Takeda Announces New Assignments of Directors and Appointment of Julie Kim as Representative Director, President and CEO • Board of Directors appoints Julie Kim as Representative Director, President & CEO following shareholder vote • Announces new appointments and assignments of directors OSAKA, Japan and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, June 24, 2026 - In the final step of its 18-month CEO transition, Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced that Julie Kim was officially appointed Takeda’s Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer. During the 150th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which took place in Osaka, Japan, shareholders elected Julie as a new internal director to the Board of Directors. Following the vote and conclusion of the meeting, the Board of Directors appointed her as Representative Director, President & CEO. Upon conclusion of the meeting, former president & CEO Christophe Weber retired from the Company and the Board. Chair of the Board of Directors Meeting, Masami Iijima, commented: “On behalf of Takeda’s Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate Julie Kim on becoming Takeda’s President and CEO. The Board of Directors is confident in Ms. Kim to drive executional excellence as Takeda launches a number of highly anticipated medicines and grows long-term shareholder value. The Board would like to thank Christophe Weber for his 12 years of extraordinary service to Takeda. He delivered global scale and an innovative pipeline, while strengthening Takeda’s reputation globally as a company built on integrity. We wish him all the best in the future.” President & CEO, Julie Kim, commented: “It is a privilege and honor to lead Takeda and position the company for long-term profitable growth and increased patient impact. I would like to thank Christophe for his leadership over the last 12 years and in particular, his guidance during the transition period. I would also like to thank our shareholders, Mr. Iijima and the Board of Directors, including the six retiring external Directors, for their support. Going forward, I’m excited to partner with the elected Board to continue our important work for patients and other stakeholders. As we enter our next era, we have three major launches planned in the next 12 months and we are continuing to advance our robust pipeline of five additional highly innovative late-stage assets. Our growth roadmap built around our two strategic horizons positions us for a successful future for patients, our talented employees and shareholders.”
2 Julie Kim brings more than three decades of global healthcare experience and a track record of advancing innovation, expanding access to life-changing medicines and delivering meaningful impact for patients and communities. She joined Takeda in 2019 through the acquisition of Shire and held several executive-level roles, including president of the Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit and president of the U.S. Business Unit before becoming CEO-elect in 2025. Learn more about Julie’s experience and leadership roles on Takeda.com and refer to the attached document. To help guide Takeda’s next growth chapter, shareholders elected members of the Board of Directors, including three new external directors: Bruce Broussard, Koichiro Kimura and Dr. Paul Stoffels. • Mr. Broussard brings decades of leadership experience with large global companies and international business management, and deep expertise in the U.S. healthcare system. • As the former Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Japan, Mr. Kimura has extensive experience in geopolitical risk and corporate governance across the Asia-Pacific region. • Dr. Stoffels brings an exceptional track record in pharmaceutical R&D innovation, having overseen the global launch of 25 medicines, first as Chief Science Officer at Johnson & Johnson, and then as CEO of biotechnology company Galapagos. At the Board of Directors and the Audit and Supervisory Committee meetings following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, new assignments of directors were determined. Takeda's Board of Directors has eight members serving as external directors out of a total of 11 members, helping to ensure transparency and objectivity. An external director will continue to chair the Board of Directors meeting. The Audit and Supervisory Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Compensation Committee will be composed solely of external directors including their chairs. 1. New Assignment of Directors Who Are Not Audit and Supervisory Committee Members (Effective June 24, 2026) Name Category Role Julie Kim Internal/New Representative Director, President & Chief Executive Officer Milano Furuta Internal/Existing Director, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Plump Internal/Existing Director, President, Research & Development Masami Iijima External/Existing External Director, Chair of the Board Meeting Steven Gillis External/Existing External Director John Maragnore External/Existing External Director Paul Stoffels* External/New External Director Miki Tsusaka External/Existing External Director *Dr. Paul Stoffels is also a Substitute Audit and Supervisory Committee member
3 2. Directors Who Are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members (Effective June 24, 2026) Name Category Role Koichiro Kimura External/New External Director, Head of Audit and Supervisory Committee Bruce Broussard External/New External Director, Audit and Supervisory Committee Member Kimberly A. Reed External/Existing External Director, Audit and Supervisory Committee Member 3. New Assignment of Nomination Committee and Compensation Committee Members (Effective June 24, 2026) Nomination committee: Masami Iijima (Chairperson), Steven Gillis and Koichiro Kimura (Observer: Julie Kim) Compensation committee: John Maraganore (Chairperson), Masami Iijima, Kimberly A. Reed, Miki Tsusaka About Takeda Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values- based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com. Important Notice For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this press release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.
4 The product names appearing in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Takeda, or their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward- looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward- looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “outlook” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States and with respect to international trade relations; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including drug pricing, tax, tariff and other trade-related rules; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic; the success of our environmental sustainability efforts, in enabling us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or meet our other environmental goals; the extent to which our efforts to increase efficiency, productivity or cost- savings, such as the integration of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, in our business or other initiatives to restructure our operations will lead to the expected benefits; and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results. Contacts Investor Relations Christopher O’Reilly Takeda.ir.contact@takeda.com Media Relations Tsuyoshi Tada (Tokyo) toiawase_kouhou@takeda.co.jp Kristi Bond (Boston) Media_relations@takeda.com ###
5 (Attachment) 1. Biography of Newly Appointed Representative Director Name (Date of Birth) Business Experience Number of ADSs Held* Julie Kim (June 6, 1970) June 2016 June 2016 May 2018 January 2019 January 2019 April 2022 August 2025 September 2025 November 2025 January 2026 June 2026 Joined Shire plc Head of International Value Demonstration & Access Head of Global Hematology Franchise Joined Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited President, Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit President, U.S. Business Unit, and U.S. Country Head President, U.S. Business Unit, U.S. Country Head and Interim Head, Global Portfolio Division Director and Chief Executive Officer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (present) Interim Head, Global Portfolio Division CEO-Elect Representative Director, President & CEO (present) 173,773 ADSs * There are no ordinary shares held as of the filing date.