Sapporo Holdings announces leadership changes amid strategic business transformation 

JAPAN – Japanese beer company Sapporo Holdings has announced the promotion of Hiroshi Tokimatsu, the current executive group managing officer, to the role of president.  

The leadership change aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance profitability and reorganize its business portfolio. 

Tokimatsu will officially assume the role of president of both Sapporo Holdings and Sapporo Breweries following shareholder and board meetings scheduled for March 2025.  

As part of this transition, he will step down from his position as president of Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage. Meanwhile, the current president, Masaki Oga, will transition to the role of special advisor. 

Tokimatsu brings a wealth of experience spanning various sectors, including alcoholic beverages, food, soft drinks, and real estate.  

Sapporo Holdings noted that he has played a pivotal role in the company’s transformation initiatives and is well-positioned to drive the growth of its overseas business. 

As part of the leadership restructuring, Sapporo also announced other key appointments.  

Masashi Sato will take over as president of Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage, while Hiroyuki Nose will step down as president of Sapporo Breweries to become chairman of the subsidiary. 

The leadership changes come as Sapporo Holdings reviews its medium- to long-term management policies, first announced in February 2024.  

The company is focused on significantly revising its business portfolio, emphasizing its core alcoholic beverages and real estate operations.  

In August, Sapporo announced plans to seek investment proposals from external partners for its real estate division. 

Sapporo aims to optimize its manufacturing and logistics value chain while capturing a 25 percent share of the domestic beer market. It is also prioritizing innovation in alcoholic beverages, with plans to develop non-alcoholic and low-alcohol options under the theme of “wellbeing.” 

The company has committed to increased investment in its international business, with a particular focus on promoting Sapporo Premium Beer as a high-quality product characterized by a “sophisticated taste” and “uniqueness reminiscent of Japan.” 

Financially, Sapporo reported a 2.1 percent increase in consolidated revenue to ¥385.6 billion (US$2.5 billion) for the first nine months of 2024, driven by strong beer sales in Japan and the US.  

Operating profit surged by 84.6% to ¥17.7 billion (US$112 million), while profit attributable to owners of the parent rose by 276.2 percent to ¥11.5 billion (US$73.4 million), reflecting structural reforms and the absence of last year’s impairment losses. 

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