Michitaka Sawada

Outside Director, Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Outside Director, Nitto Denko Corporation
Outside Director, Komatsu Ltd.

Ever since assuming office as Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer in 2012, Mr. Sawada has made a significant contribution in enhancing corporate value by promoting the "Yoki-Monozukuri"^* philosophy which emphasizes R&D. In January 2021, he assumed the position of Director, Chair, and has since supervised management based on experience and expertise as Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer and promoted external activities by serving as Chair of the Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA), which carries out initiatives to address the problem of marine plastic waste. In addition to contributing to the development of next-generation leaders by creating opportunities for direct dialogue with Kao Group employees, he has actively given opinions at meetings of the Board of Directors, such as raising issues extracted from the dialogue. Having determined that Mr. Sawada will utilize the aforementioned experience and knowledge, to further contribute to enhancing the corporate value of the Kao Group, the Company hereby appoints him as a Director.