The CEO of global beverage giant Suntory Holdings has stepped down after police discovered a supplement containing a controlled substance at his Tokyo home, ending the 66-year old veteran executive’s 11-year tenure at the Japanese drinks giant.
According to a statement published on Suntory’s website, Takeshi Niinami informed the board on August 22 that he was under police investigation. The company immediately requested its external legal team to question him. During the discussions, Niinami explained that the matter stemmed from a “supplement.”
Police in Tokyo’s Minato Ward reportedly discovered the supplement at his residence and confirmed it contained THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a controlled substance under Japanese law. Niinami told investigators that the supplement had been a gift from an American female acquaintance and that he believed it to be legal.
Although police have not yet issued a final conclusion, Suntory stated that Niinami’s handling of the supplement demonstrated a “lack of proper judgment,” making it impossible for him to remain in a leadership role representing the company. After discussions, the board accepted his resignation, effective September 1. The company emphasized that the supplement was not a Suntory product.
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, Niinami admitted that, because Suntory is also involved in the health supplement business, being investigated by police constituted “a disgrace,” and that this was the reason he decided to step down.
At 66, Niinami is a veteran corporate leader. He joined Suntory in July 2014 after serving as chairman of Lawson convenience stores and earlier working at Mitsubishi Corporation. Suntory had hoped his experience would accelerate its growth.
Beyond the company, Niinami is a prominent figure in Japan’s business and political circles. He serves as chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), one of the country’s most influential business lobbies, and is a senior economic advisor to the Prime Minister’s office. He is well known for outspoken commentary on economic and political affairs. As previously reported, when former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 24% tariff on Japanese goods, Niinami warned that such a move would seriously dampen investor interest in the U.S. market and predicted that Japan, China, and India would dominate the future of free trade in the Asia-Pacific.
Although he has resigned from Suntory, Niinami intends to remain chairman of Keizai Doyukai, signaling his continued influence in Japan’s economic and political landscape.
Founded in 1899 and headquartered in Osaka, Suntory has grown from a family-run business into a global group spanning spirits, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. It operates 265 subsidiaries with 41,357 employees worldwide. In 2024, Suntory posted sales (excluding liquor tax) of ¥3.0797 trillion (US$20.3 billion), up 4.3% year-on-year.
Suntory’s wine operations are global. In Japan, it owns importer Fwines as well as the wineries Tomi no Oka and Iwanohara Vineyard. Overseas, it owns Bordeaux classified growths Château Lagrange and Château Beychevelle, among other estates and merchants. In China, Suntory once managed wine imports and distribution through ASC Fine Wines, but earlier this year sold its entire stake back to ASC’s founder, Don St. Pierre Jr.
During his tenure, Niinami pushed Suntory toward globalization to counter slowing domestic consumption and rising competition abroad. He also emphasized developing more casual, lifestyle-oriented alcoholic beverages, including in the wine category. In 2021, the company announced in its Suntory Wine International Limited Business Strategy report that it would launch 350ml canned products such as Suntory Wine Sour, to promote wine as an everyday, approachable drink.
In a 2024 interview with Time magazine, Niinami highlighted that many younger consumers, particularly Gen Z, are drinking less or not at all. He said Suntory had to adapt to these shifts, turning to ready-to-drink (RTD) products and similar innovations to attract younger drinkers.
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