Tokyo, Japan, October 2025 — Santen has appointed Yoko Saiki as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In this role, she will oversee the company’s global HR strategy, focusing on talent development, organizational transformation, and fostering a people-first culture that aligns with Santen’s mission to contribute to the well-being of patients and society.
Saiki has been part of Santen since 2020, most recently serving as Corporate Officer, Global Head of Corporate Strategy, where she played a pivotal role in shaping business strategy and global growth priorities. She previously held the position of Global Head of Corporate Strategy, spearheading strategic planning initiatives to strengthen Santen’s market leadership in ophthalmology.
Before joining Santen, Saiki built an extensive career at Astellas Pharma, where she held multiple senior leadership positions over nearly a decade. She served as Executive Director, Future Science Design, Research Portfolio Planning, Drug Discovery Research, and Executive Director, Strategic Business Management, Japan Sales & Marketing, where she drove research portfolio optimization and commercial strategy.
Her international experience also includes senior roles at Astellas US LLC in Chicago as Vice President, Corporate Development and Executive Director, Corporate Strategy, Planning & SIM, where she contributed to global corporate planning, strategic investments, and cross-border business development. Earlier in her career at Astellas Pharma in Japan, she gained strong expertise in corporate finance, control, and planning, which laid the foundation for her subsequent executive roles.
Saiki’s leadership journey across strategy, science, and business development uniquely positions her to integrate people strategy with organizational priorities as she takes on the CHRO role at Santen.
About Santen
Santen is a specialized company dedicated to ophthalmology, carrying out research, development, marketing, and sales of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, and medical devices. As the market leader for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan, Santen’s products now reach patients in over 60 countries and regions. With scientific knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over a 130-year history, Santen continues to contribute to the well-being of patients, their loved ones, and society at large.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
