Leadership History

Hitachi: CEO History

4 leaders · 1910 to present

Company Overview

Hitachi is no longer best understood as an unfocused conglomerate. It is a focused industrial technology group using digital systems and infrastructure assets to serve customers dealing with decarbonization, electrification, automation, and resilience.

4

Keiji Kojima

President and Chief Executive Officer

2022 – Present

4 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Taking over the leadership of the conglomerate in 2022, Keiji Kojima serves as the primary architect of Hitachi's modern growth phase. His most defining strategic decision was to accelerate the company's dual focus on 'Digital and Green' technologies. He has championed continued investments into the Lumada software platform and mandated the rapid integration of the newly acquired GlobalLogic engineering teams across all legacy industrial divisions. Furthermore, he has divested non-core, lower-margin legacy businesses, including substantial portions of Hitachi Construction Machinery and Hitachi Metals, to free up immense capital for strategic, high-growth digital acquisitions.

Legacy

Kojima's disciplined, execution-focused leadership is transforming Hitachi from a traditional, sprawling industrial conglomerate into a focused, high-margin technology powerhouse. His relentless commitment to sustainable infrastructure and software integration ensures the historic company remains essential in the modern global economy. His steadfast vision ensures the conglomerate will navigate the complexities of global supply chain disruptions while maximizing shareholder returns.

3

Toshiaki Tokunaga

Senior Executive

2020 – Present

6 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

As a critical senior leader within the modern Hitachi ecosystem, Toshiaki Tokunaga has played an essential role in driving the global expansion of the company's digital initiatives. He has been heavily involved in managing the complex, important integration of international acquisitions like GlobalLogic into the broader corporate structure. His strategic focus has been on breaking down historic, rigid corporate silos to ensure seamless collaboration between Hitachi's traditional hardware engineers and its newly acquired software developers. He actively champions the implementation of cutting-edge agile development methodologies, reshaping the conservative corporate culture into a fast-paced technology incubator.

Legacy

Tokunaga's exceptional operational expertise has ensured that the brilliant theoretical promises of the 'Social Innovation' strategy are actually realized in practice. His ability to smoothly manage culturally distinct global teams is critical to the ongoing success of the Lumada platform. His steady guidance provides the vital operational bridge required to merge physical engineering brilliance with modern digital strategy.

2

Toshiaki Higashihara

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

2014 – 2022

8 years

Key Decisions & Impact

As a visionary leader who guided Hitachi through a crucial period of intense structural reform, Toshiaki Higashihara's most legendary achievement was officially formalizing and executing the 'Social Innovation Business' strategy. He made the difficult, consequential decisions to restructure the corporation, shedding billions of dollars in unprofitable legacy consumer electronics businesses. He boldly authorized the colossal acquisitions of ABB Power Grids and GlobalLogic, betting the entire future of the company on the convergence of physical infrastructure and digital data.

Legacy

Higashihara essentially saved Hitachi from the slow decline that plagued many other traditional Japanese electronics conglomerates. By forcing the resistant corporate culture to embrace digital transformation and software integration, he secured the company's long-term profitability and global relevance. His ability to force structural change upon a conservative organization proved to be his defining legacy.

1

Namihei Odaira

Founder

1910 – 1947

37 years

Key Decisions & Impact

In 1910, Namihei Odaira established a small repair shop for mining machinery in the remote, mountainous Ibaraki Prefecture. His defining, foundational decision was a relentless, uncompromising commitment to developing original, indigenous Japanese technology rather than simply importing foreign machinery. He manufactured Japan's very first five-horsepower electric motor, a historic achievement that proved domestic engineering could compete on the global stage. He deliberately established an enduring corporate philosophy centered entirely on contributing to broader society through the development of superior, reliable technology. His resolute insistence on developing proprietary, indigenous engineering expertise protected the nascent Japanese industrial sector from total foreign domination.

Legacy

Namihei Odaira laid the unshakeable philosophical and technical foundation of the Hitachi Group. His original, enduring mission to utilize advanced engineering to solve fundamental societal problems remains the literal blueprint for the modern 'Social Innovation' strategy that continues to define the global conglomerate over a century later. His initial technological breakthroughs set the standard for Japanese industrial excellence that continues to be respected worldwide.

Challenges & Strategic Context

Hitachi must manage long-cycle infrastructure execution, grid-supply bottlenecks, yen volatility, integration complexity, and competition from Siemens, GE Vernova, Schneider, ABB, Honeywell, and specialized industrial-automation peers.

Hitachi CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is the current chief executive officer of Hitachi, Ltd.?

Keiji Kojima currently leads Hitachi, Ltd., overseeing strategic vision, balance sheet health, and organizational execution in Industrial technology, digital systems, and infrastructure.

What is the CEO's primary strategic agenda for 2026?

Under executive direction, Hitachi, Ltd. is prioritizing workflow automation alongside disciplined capital allocation to maximize shareholder value.

How has executive leadership guided Hitachi, Ltd. through past market transitions?

Leadership at Hitachi, Ltd. has historically navigated industry cycles by restructuring operational priorities and expanding competitive moats.