Chelmsford, Mass.– Asahi Kasei has appointed Ken Shinomiya as the new Leader of its Healthcare Sector, marking a significant leadership transition as the company continues to expand its global footprint in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and critical care. Shinomiya, who also serves as President of Asahi Kasei Life Science, succeeds Richard Packer in this role and is set to guide the sector through its next phase of growth and innovation.
Shinomiya brings extensive leadership experience within Asahi Kasei and its subsidiaries, including key roles at ZOLL Medical Corporation, where he served as Vice President of Strategy, and later as Head of the Bioprocess Division at Asahi Kasei Medical. In 2023, he was named President of Asahi Kasei Medical and, earlier this year, assumed leadership of Asahi Kasei Life Science, which oversees the company’s growing life sciences portfolio.
Under Shinomiya’s leadership, Asahi Kasei’s life sciences business has expanded beyond its core Planova™ virus removal filters to include contract research organization (CRO) testing services and the biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business of U.S.-based Bionova Scientific. This strategic expansion reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to meet the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical industry.
“Asahi Kasei’s healthcare business exemplifies our ability to integrate global management practices with our unique business models, leveraging creativity and innovation to deliver exceptional products and services,” Shinomiya said. “Moving forward, we will continue to evolve our international outlook, advancing the growth and globalization of the Asahi Kasei Group.”
The Healthcare Sector has rapidly globalized in recent years, particularly since Asahi Kasei’s 2012 acquisition of ZOLL Medical Corporation, which provided a critical care platform in the United States. This move helped accelerate the company’s transition into a diverse, global healthcare enterprise. In 2023, Asahi Kasei relocated its Healthcare Sector headquarters to the U.S. to further enhance global management and foster growth.
With Shinomiya at the helm, the Healthcare Sector will continue to pursue its long-term strategy of strengthening its pharmaceutical, life science, and critical care businesses. The sector remains committed to its mission of “Improving and saving patients’ lives” by delivering innovative therapies and medical devices that address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Asahi Kasei’s Healthcare Sector is poised to be a key growth driver for the entire Asahi Kasei Group, with a target to achieve ¥150 billion in operating income by 2030.
