Suntory Chairman Niinami Steps Down, Nobuhiro Torii To Helm Company

Longtime Suntory executive Takeshi Niinami has stepped down as chairman of the company. Niinami’s departure came after he informed the company he was the subject of an investigation in which it was alleged that he purchased a supplement containing the cannabinoid THC, which is outlawed in Japan. Niinami said he had believed the supplement was legal, but felt the best option for the company was for him to resign.

Late last year, Suntory promoted Nobuhiro Torii to president, with Niinami remaining CEO and also becoming chairman. The great-grandson of Shinjiro Torii, who founded Suntory predecessor company Torii Shoten, Torii will now lead Suntory Holdings moving forward.

Niinami drove significant expansion for Suntory Holdings during his tenure, including the $16 billion acquisition of Beam Inc. in 2014. Today, the company’s Suntory Global Spirits unit has sales above $5.5 billion and ranks second among all spirits marketers globally with volume of just under 150 million 9-liter cases, according to Impact Databank.—Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Suntory Global Spirits, Suntory Holdings

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