KDDI Corporation, one of Japan's leading telecommunications companies, has officially announced the appointment of Hiroshi Matsuda as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), marking significant changes within its corporate structure. This decision was made during the board meeting on February 5, 2025, with Matsuda set to take over from the current president, Makoto Takahashi, who will transition to the role of chairman effective April 1, 2025.
The leadership change marks the first CEO transition at KDDI in seven years. Hiroshi Matsuda, who currently serves as the Chief Digital Officer (CDO), will step up to lead the company at a time when the telecommunications industry is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Matsuda, who began his career with the company when it was known as KDD (Kokusai Denshin Denwa), has extensive experience, particularly with the development and rollout of 5G communications.
During the announcement, Matsuda expressed, "I think the next phase after 5G will be the AI era, and it's important to combine AI with telecommunications. Our main theme is how to evolve 5G through AI integration." This statement reflects not only his vision but also the strategic direction KDDI intends to pursue under his leadership. He elaborated on the necessity of utilizing AI to advance network capabilities and improve service offerings.
Matsuda, born in November 1971 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, completed his engineering master's degree at Kyoto University. He joined KDDI in 1996, starting as an engineer and progressing through various roles, which included significant contributions to developing mobile communication standards and product strategies throughout the transition from 3G to 5G technologies.
The outgoing president, Makoto Takahashi, who held the position for seven years, reflected on his term during the press conference following the board meeting. Takahashi shared, "It has really been too quick; I can't believe how many things have happened. When I became president, the Hokkaido earthquake was my starting point, and disasters have been frequent since then." He acknowledged the various challenges the company faced during his tenure, particularly the prolonged communication outage experienced by KDDI back in July 2022, which lasted approximately 86 hours, causing significant service disruptions.
Takahashi highlighted the importance of collective effort and collaborated with technical teams to regain customer trust following the incident, stating, "We've finally been able to claim the top spot through OpenSignal, which I am very happy about." This recognition from OpenSignal was particularly significant as it affirmed KDDI’s efforts to provide reliable service amid growing competition and increasing consumer expectations.
Looking to the future, Matsuda is set to formulate the next mid-term business strategy as the current plan concludes at the end of the 2025 fiscal year. He insists on continuing the company's 'Satellite Growth Strategy,' where telecommunications remain the core business, but technologies are embedded across other sectors like finance and energy to create comprehensive services. This approach aims to refine KDDI's competitive edge not just within telecommunications but across the broader technology and service landscapes.
With Matsuda's appointment, there is also the aspect of generational change being addressed at KDDI. At 53 years old, Matsuda brings youth and vigor to the leadership, contrasting with his predecessor, who was 56 at the start of his term. This transition is seen as part of a strategy to rejuvenate the leadership and keep pace with the fast-evolving tech industry, particularly as competition intensifies from younger tech firms.
Overall, KDDI’s decision to appoint Matsuda as the new CEO reflects strategic foresight as the company seeks to embrace new technologies and tackle the challenges posed by the rapidly shifting telecommunications environment. His focus on AI integration will likely guide KDDI toward achieving sustained innovation and delivering enhanced services to its users.