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Takeshi Niinami, one of Japan’s most high-profile and outspoken executives, has resigned as the head of the global drinks group Suntory.
Suntory said on Tuesday that Niinami, its chair and chief executive who has run the group since 2014, had resigned after a search of his home as part of an ongoing police investigation related to suspected illegal supplements.
Niinami oversaw Suntory’s integration of US whisky maker Beam following its $16bn acquisition and has been an important figure in US-Japan business ties.
He has also served for the past two years as the chair of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, one of the nation’s two main business lobbies and a powerful voice of corporate Japan.
The Japanese executive has denied any involvement in illegal activity.
This is a developing story
