Panasonic Industry Europe is undergoing a major leadership transition. After more than 27 years with the company and over a decade steering its European operations, President and CEO Johannes Spatz will retire on September 30, 2026.
Taking the helm effective October 1 is Kosuke Akiyoshi, a Panasonic veteran with over three decades of experience.
Akiyoshi steps into the top European role after most recently serving as Global Sales Director of the company’s Industrial Devices Business Division. His background spans major senior sales, marketing, and international management roles across both Europe and Asia.
For Panasonic, the leadership swap is a strategic move to tighten the alignment between its European operations and the global business organization. Akiyoshi is expected to leverage his deep industrial market expertise to drive long-term regional growth, foster innovation, and strengthen customer partnerships.
He inherits a highly consolidated European operation, largely thanks to Spatz’s legacy. Over his tenure, Spatz spearheaded significant organizational shifts, most notably establishing Panasonic Industry Europe’s current Ottobrunn headquarters in 2017.
He was the driving force behind bringing fragmented units including Haar-based PIDSEU, under one cohesive roof, ultimately finalizing the complex merger of PEWEU (where he previously served as CEO) and PIEU into a single unified company in October 2022.
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