Masahiro Ogawa
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
Born in August 1964, he joined Yaskawa Electric in March 1987. In December 2010 he took charge of the Americas business as head of the Americas region and Chairman of Yaskawa America, a role he kept after becoming Executive Officer in June 2012. In March 2016 he moved to head the Robotics Division, and while rising through Director, Managing Executive Officer and Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, he kept that post for seven years until becoming President in March 2023. He led both an overseas subsidiary and the core robotics business.
Selection
In March 2023 he succeeded Hiroshi Ogasawara as President at age 58. His predecessor, who had been Chairman and President for a year, remained Chairman. The fiscal year ended February 2023, just before the change, produced record profits with consolidated revenue of ¥555.9 billion and operating income of ¥68.3 billion, and the handover coincided with the first year of the mid-term management plan Realize 25 (fiscal 2023 to 2025). On becoming President he also took charge of the Technology Development Division. The appointment appears to have entrusted the completion of the long-term plan Vision 2025, technology development included, to an executive from robotics.
Initiatives
Realize 25's targets for fiscal 2025 of ¥100 billion in operating income and a 15% operating margin were missed because of China's slow recovery and postponed semiconductor investment, and the plan was revised in April 2025. Fiscal 2025 results were revenue of ¥542.1 billion, operating income of ¥47.3 billion and an operating margin of 8.7%. Meanwhile he announced the rollout of the autonomous robot MOTOMAN NEXT in partnership with NVIDIA, completed the fifth robot plant, announced a new US campus and moved to acquire shares in Tokyo Robotics. He stepped down as President in May 2026 to oversee the AI robotics business as Vice Chairman and Executive Officer. Five months later, on October 2, 2026, he died of illness at 62.
Career
Career
Yaskawa Electric
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Mar 1987 | Joined |
| Dec 2010 | Head of Americas, Chairman, U.S. Yaskawa |
| Jun 2012 | Executive Officer, Head of Americas, Chairman, U.S. Yaskawa |
| Mar 2016 | Executive Officer, General Manager, Robotto Division |
| May 2019 | Director, Executive Officer, General Manager, Robotto Division |
| Mar 2020 | Director, Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Robotto Division |
| Mar 2022 | Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Robotto Division |
| Mar 2023 | Representative Director, President, in charge of Human Resource Development Promotion, in charge of ICT Strategy, General Manager, Technology Development Headquarters |
| Mar 2026 | Representative Director, President, in charge of Human Resource Development Promotion, in charge of ICT Strategy |
| May 2026 | Vice Chairman, Executive Officer, Head of AI Robotics Business, Head of Shin Mechatronics Applied Business |
| May 2026 | Stepped down as President |
| Oct 2026 | Stepped down as Executive Officer |
References 3
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 安川電機 有価証券報告書 第109期（2025年2月期）・第110期（2026年2月期）【役員の状況】
- 安川電機 臨時報告書（2026年4月13日提出・代表取締役の異動）
- 安川電機 ニュースリリース「訃報」（2026年10月5日）