Olympus CEO resigns over alleged purchase of illegal drugs
Al Jazeera
CEO Stefan Kaufmann was asked to resign following internal inquiry, Japanese firm says.
The foreign chief executive of Japan’s Olympus has resigned following an investigation into allegations he brought illegal drugs, the medical equipment maker has said.
CEO Stefan Kaufmann, who had led the company since April 2023, stepped down at the request of the board of directors, Olympus said in a statement on Monday.
Olympus said it initiated the investigation after receiving an allegation from an unspecified source.
“Based on the results of the investigation, the Board of Directors unanimously determined that Mr. Stefan Kaufmann likely engaged in behaviours that were inconsistent with our global code of conduct, our core values, and our corporate culture,” Olympus said in a statement.
Olympus chairman Yasuo Takeuchi will take the reins as CEO “for the time being” while the board’s nominating committee considers a permanent successor, the company said.
