Kazutoshi Kobayashi
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined KOSÉ in April 1986, became a Director five years later in March 1991, and Managing Director in March 1995. He became Representative Director and Executive Vice President in June 2004 and President three years later. In the fiscal year ended December 2025 the top major shareholders are three entities, KOSÉ Management (a general incorporated association) with 9.95%, Wood with 9.80% and MYM Laboratories with 9.62%, with individuals Kazuo Kobayashi at 3.38% and Michiko Kobayashi at 1.19%. Becoming a Director five years after joining was a different path from the board appointments of career employees.
Selection
In June 2007 he became President, succeeding Yasukiyo Kobayashi. He was promoted after three years as Representative Director and Executive Vice President. In the fiscal year before he took office, ended March 2007, consolidated revenue was ¥176.4 billion and operating income ¥13.7 billion, both down from ¥177.8 billion and ¥19.6 billion the year before. Revenue stalled at around ¥170 billion from FY ended March 2006 to FY ended March 2013.
Initiatives
In 2014 the company acquired 93.5% of the U.S. makeup brand Tarte, entering the North American market. Consolidated revenue grew from ¥176.4 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2007, before he took office, to ¥333.0 billion in FY ended March 2019, and operating income from ¥13.7 billion to ¥52.4 billion. In 2024 it transferred its stake in a Chinese production subsidiary and began a structural reform involving inventory disposal and store closures. In 2026 it moved to a pure holding company structure, and he became Representative Director, Chairman and Group CEO.
Career
Career
Kose
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1986 | Joined |
| Mar 1991 | Director |
| Mar 1995 | Managing Director |
| Jun 2004 | Representative Director, Executive Vice President |
| Jun 2007 | Representative Director, President |
| Jan 2026 | Chairman, Kose |
| Mar 2026 | Representative Director, Chairman, Group CEO |
References 2
References (Japanese primary sources)
- コーセー 有価証券報告書 第65期（2007年3月期）【役員の状況】
- コーセーホールディングス 有価証券報告書 第84期（2025年12月期）【役員の状況】