Epson Philippines Leadership Changes as Tomokazu Fujii Succeeds Masako Kusama

Tomokazu Fujii assumed the presidency of Epson Philippines Corporation on October 1, succeeding Masako Kusama, who is retiring after 36 years with the company, Newsbytes.PH reported. Kusama announced the transition in a Facebook post, noting that she will return to Japan next week and reach her formal retirement milestone in November.

Kusama, who joined Seiko Epson in 1990, became Epson's first female country manager globally when she took over the Philippine operations in July 2022. She was introduced at the company's annual Fusion media event that year. Prior to her Philippine assignment, she served as general manager of Epson's business systems division in Japan.

During her tenure, Kusama prioritized expanding Epson Philippines' enterprise market presence, aiming to grow its business-to-business operations alongside its established consumer business. The company increased its focus on office and large-format printers, projectors, and label printers as digitalization pressured traditional document printing. Kusama also highlighted opportunities in textile printing, signage, and labeling.

She will continue with Seiko Group in a contractual role within its sustainability division in Japan, a plan Newsbytes.PH reported in May. In her post, Kusama thanked employees, customers, partners, and stakeholders and asked for continued support for Fujii.

"The Philippines will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will cherish the memories and relationships built over these years," she said.

Fujii's appointment marks a new chapter for Epson Philippines. The leadership change comes as the company navigates a shifting printing and imaging market in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, where digital transformation continues to reshape demand. The source material does not specify Fujii's prior roles or his strategic priorities for the Philippine unit.

Kusama's departure from her current position does not end her association with Epson, as her re-employment arrangement keeps her connected to the Seiko Group. Her retirement from her executive role is effective as of the handover, though she reaches the company's retirement milestone in November.

The transition is relevant to technology businesses and users in the Philippines and Southeast Asia because Epson maintains a significant presence in the region's printing, projection, and labeling markets. Changes in local leadership can influence how the company addresses enterprise customers, channel partners, and emerging segments such as textile and signage printing. However, the source material provides no details on Fujii's background or his plans, so the immediate impact on Epson's Philippine strategy remains unclear.

Newsbytes.PH originally reported the leadership change.