Tokyo, Japan — October 2, 2017— Wacom Co., Ltd. today announced that the company’s board of directors has named Nobutaka (Nobu) Ide as Representative Director, President and CEO, effective April 1, 2018. Nobu Ide currently serves as Director, Executive Vice President in charge of Wacom’s Technology Solution and Platform & Applications Business Units. Masahiko Yamada, currently Representative Director, President and CEO, will resign as President and CEO on March 31, 2018, and retire as Director following Wacom’s 35th Ordinary Shareholders‘ Meeting planned at the end of June 2018.
On April 1, 2017, Wacom established the Nominating Committee, consisting mainly of outside directors. The committee was tasked to nominate the candidate best suited to take over the role of representative director, and capable of leading the business globally based on the company’s vision, and ensuring robust governance to raise Wacom’s corporate value. The decision was reached at the meeting of the Board of Directors upon nomination by the committee.
Comment from Masahiko Yamada, current Representative Director, President and CEO.
“Wacom’s pen technology offers a user interface to inspire human creativity, and has contributed in shaping the computer graphics industry, as well as digital transformation in many fields, such as education and healthcare. We are also leading the way in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) design, as well as in the standardization of digital ink. As the IT industry undergoes a dynamic transformation centered on cloud technologies and IoT solutions, we need new leadership to drive strategic partnerships across the globe for Wacom, to further accelerate its evolution. Throughout his career, Nobu Ide has gained a wealth of experience in new business development, and exhibited extraordinary leadership in solidifying the Technology Solution business and establishing strategic partnerships with key industry players. I firmly believe that he will be able to achieve Wacom's continuous growth, and elevate the company to the next level, with his business management acumen and excellent judgement.”
Comment from Nobu Ide, Nominee of Representative Director, President and CEO.
“I am excited to be nominated as the next Representative Director, and President and CEO, and to be able to take on this extremely important mission with tremendous responsibility. Firstly, I will strive to drive continuous technological innovation through Wacom’s core values, around its digital pen and ink technologies, in close collaboration with our customers. By working closely with partners, I’m determined to create new values and deliver them to our customers, in order to further nurture the existing market as well as open up new opportunities there. We must lay a solid foundation for the continuous future growth of Wacom’s two pillars, the Branded business and Technology Solution business, and I’m committed to realizing our vision for “A world alive with creativity,” and would like to unite the entire company to this end.”
Nobu Ide joined Wacom in August 2013 as head of marketing of then Component Business Unit, and has been leading efforts to promote Wacom’s new digital pen technologies across the industry, as well as to develop partnerships with key industry players. He was appointed SVP and head of Technology Solution Business Unit in July 2015. He was promoted to EVP in charge of Technology Solution and Platform & Applications Business Units April this year, and successively appointed Director of the company this past June.
About Wacom
Founded in 1983, Wacom is a global company based in Japan with subsidiaries and affiliate offices around the world to support marketing and distribution in over 150 countries and areas. It is the world’s leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom’s intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashion and designs around the world and provides business and home users with their leading interface technology to express their personality. The company also offers its products as OEM solutions to leading manufacturers serving incremental markets. Wacom’s interface technology, called Wacom Feel IT technologies, is also offered as an integrated solution to strategic partners. Most tablet device and PC manufacturers count on the advanced features and reliability to deliver a superior user interface experience.
*Wacom, WILL, Feel are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Wacom Co., Ltd.
*All other trademarks and product names are property of their respective companies
＜Contact Information＞
Corporate Communication, Wacom Co., Ltd.
Tel：+81-3-5337-6702
E-mail: Wacom-pr(at)wacom.co.jp