Eisai Inc, the US subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co, has appointed Yuji Matsue as Chairman and Chief Executive and Shaji Procida as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective from 1 April. They succeed current President and CEO Lonnel Coats, who will be retiring in June after 18 years at the company.
Matsue will take responsibility for the strategic direction of the Americas region, while Procida will have full operating responsibility for the US business. Together they also will provide regional management support and oversight to all of Eisai's operating companies and units in the Americas.
Matsue joined Eisai in 1982 and has had a long and successful career with the company, holding a number of leadership positions in Japan, Europe and the US. Most recently, he was Deputy President of the Asia region at Eisai Co.
In 1995, Matsue went to the US to become one of the first five employees of Eisai Inc. At that time, he served as one of the key leaders for the US launch of Alzheimer's treatment Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride), which was Eisai's first pharmaceutical product in the US. Matsue attained roles of increasing responsibility in the US, culminating in his 2001 appointment as Vice President of Commercial Development.
In 2006, Matsue was promoted to SVP of Planning and Strategy at Eisai Europe in London and played a key role in the global expansion of Eisai's European operation. Three years later, he returned to Tokyo as VP of Global Public Relations and Investor Relations. During this time there, he also was appointed as a corporate officer of Eisai Co. Shortly thereafter, in 2011, he was named VP of Talent Management within Eisai's Talent Innovation Headquarters. He assumed the position of President of the Indo-Pacific region in 2012 and Deputy President of the Asia region in 2013.
Procida joined Eisai Inc in 1998 as Manager of Financial Consolidations and Reporting. Over the years, she has held positions of increasing responsibility within finance and accounting. In 2005, she became Controller, where she led the accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and consolidation functions. In 2010, she was promoted to VP of Finance, rising to Chief Financial Officer in 2012.
