Nestlé Japan appoints Motoi Shimakawa as President and CEO 

JAPAN – Nestlé Japan has announced the appointment of Motoi Shimakawa as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026, succeeding Tatsuhiko Fukaya, who will retire on 30 June after leading the company from Kobe. 

Shimakawa currently serves as Senior Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of Nestlé Japan’s Beverage Business Division. Over the past several years, he has overseen major operations across the company’s Nescafé and Starbucks consumer packaged goods businesses in both in-home and out-of-home channels. 

The company said Shimakawa has also led digital marketing and e-commerce activities, helping to drive growth through digital transformation and the expansion of online channels. 

Nestlé Japan noted that he played an important role in strengthening the company’s cold coffee business, a category that has experienced strong growth in the Japanese market. 

Shimakawa joined Nestlé Japan in 2002 and has held leadership roles spanning sales, beverage strategy, soluble coffee, digital commerce and new business development. 

The leadership transition comes as fast-moving consumer goods companies in Japan continue to invest in digital retail channels, convenience-oriented beverage formats and direct consumer engagement strategies.  

Competition within the country’s beverage sector has also intensified, with companies placing greater emphasis on coffee innovation and convenience retail partnerships. 

Nestlé Japan said Shimakawa will officially assume the position of President and CEO on 1 July 2026. 

Meanwhile, Nestlé Chief Executive Officer Philipp Navratil recently indicated that lower coffee and cocoa prices are expected to support profitability this year. 

“Net-net commodity prices or input costs are favorable in 2026 compared with 2025,” Navratil said during a consumer conference in Paris. “That’s why you should expect margins to be higher and improving through the year as those better costs in those two commodities are coming through.” 

Navratil also revealed that Nestlé plans to invest an additional 600 million Swiss francs (US$763 million) in advertising and promotional activities to accelerate growth across key business platforms. 

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