Studio Ghibli Announces President Change: Kenichi Yoda to Succeed Hiroyuki Fukuda in June 2026

Studio Ghibli announced on May 14 through its official website that it will change its president.

Hiroyuki Fukuda, Representative Director and President of Studio Ghibli Inc., will step down from his position at the conclusion of the shareholders meeting scheduled for June 22. Kenichi Yoda, currently a director of Studio Ghibli and General Specialist at the Business Division of the Content Strategy Headquarters of Nippon Television Network Corporation, will assume the role of Representative Director and President on June 22.

Fukuda, who is also Representative Director and President of Nippon Television Holdings, Inc., has concurrently served as Representative Director and President of Studio Ghibli. During his tenure, a structure in which the Nippon TV Group supports and backs various operations of Studio Ghibli was strengthened. Efforts by both companies to cooperate on program production and event production were also reinforced, producing certain results in the business collaboration between Nippon TV and Studio Ghibli.

With Yoda, who has handled event businesses such as concerts, exhibitions, and stage productions at Nippon TV and has served as the company’s main person in charge of Studio Ghibli, becoming Representative Director and President of Studio Ghibli, the companies will explore various joint initiatives at a level closer to the front lines. By combining the resources of both companies, they aim to create new forms of creativity.

Fukuda will continue to serve as a director. There will be no other changes to the executive structure, and Studio Ghibli intends to continue devoting itself to various creative activities as before.

Executive Structure Scheduled for June 22, 2026

Representative Director and Chairman: Toshio Suzuki, film producer
Representative Director and President: Kenichi Yoda, Business Division, Content Strategy Headquarters, Nippon Television Network Corporation
Representative Director and Executive Vice President: Kiyofumi Nakajima, Vice President of Ghibli Park Co., Ltd.
Director and Honorary Chairman: Hayao Miyazaki, animated film director
Managing Director: Goro Miyazaki, animated film director and Ghibli Park director
Director: Yoshikuni Sugiyama, Representative Director, Chairman and Executive Officer of Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.
Director: Hiroyuki Fukuda, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer of Nippon Television Holdings, Inc.
Director: Takuo Murase, attorney
Auditor: Yusuke Yoshie, Corporate Planning Department, President’s Office, Nippon Television Network Corporation

Career of Kenichi Yoda

Date of birth: August 14, 1974
April 1999: Joined The Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters
December 2014: Joined Nippon Television Network Corporation
October 2023: Appointed Director of Studio Ghibli Inc., current position
June 2024: Appointed General Specialist, Business Division, Content Strategy Headquarters, Nippon Television Network Corporation, current position
June 2026: Scheduled to become Representative Director and President of Studio Ghibli Inc.

Source : ORICON NEWS