Canon U.S.A. CEO Adachi Retiring, Replaced by Ogawa

Canon U.S.A. announced today that Yoroku Adachi, the company’s chairman and CEO, is retiring. His last day of work will be March 31, 2020.

Adachi, who also is retiring as executive vice president of Canon Inc. in Japan and chairman and CEO of Canon Solutions America, has enjoyed a distinguished 50-year career with Canon that included leadership roles at Canon companies around the world.

Canon U.S.A. also announced that  Kazuto Ogawa, the company’s president and COO, is being promoted to president and CEO of Canon U.S.A. and will succeed Adachi. Ogawa, who has almost 40 years of experience with Canon, joined Canon U.S.A in 2018 after serving as executive vice president at Canon China.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to succeed a tremendous leader like Mr. Adachi,’’  Ogawa said. “In many ways, Mr. Adachi was a visionary. His ability to anticipate and understand the needs of our customers and business partners as well as the many complex factors affecting our business was remarkable. He wasn’t afraid to make bold decisions or take risks that helped move Canon U.S.A. forward.’’

Adachi was named president and CEO of Canon U.S.A. in 2005 and was promoted to chairman and CEO in 2014. He was responsible for all of Canon’s operations in North, Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean.

Before leading Canon U.S.A., Adachi was president of Canon Canada from 1998-2001 and president and CEO of Canon’s Asian Group companies from 2001-2005.

Under his leadership, Canon U.S.A. ended a long search for a new headquarters on Long Island in New York State. The company constructed a 700,000-square-foot LEED Gold certified building on 52 acres in Melville and moved there from Lake Success in 2013.

“Our Melville headquarters will be a huge part of Mr. Adachi’s legacy in the United States,’’ said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A., and senior managing executive officer, Canon Inc. “But those of us who have worked closely with Mr. Adachi will remember him for his sincere concern and care about our employees and his desire to always do the right thing.’’

Ogawa began his career with Canon Inc. in 1981. From 1995-2005, he held positions with Canon Singapore, Canon Hong Kong, and Canon China before returning to Canon Singapore as president and CEO. In 2008, Ogawa was named president and CEO of Canon Canada. He became an executive officer of Canon Inc. in 2011 and was appointed executive vice president of Canon China in 2014. He was elected as a managing executive officer of Canon Inc. in 2016.