Fujitsu Chair Resigns Amid Misconduct Allegations
The chair of Fujitsu, the Japanese technology company involved in the Post Office IT scandal, has resigned following revelations of "woman-related inappropriate conduct". The company announced on Tuesday that Hidenori Furuta stepped down after serving two years in the role.
Fujitsu stated in a release that its board of directors "became aware of his inappropriate conduct and subsequently received a request from Mr Furuta to resign as director as of 16 June". The company also withdrew Furuta's candidacy as a non-executive director for its upcoming annual shareholders' meeting later this month.
A company spokesperson confirmed to the Financial Times that "there was inappropriate conduct" related to women but declined to provide further details.
Context of Fujitsu's Recent Challenges
This incident adds to the challenges facing Fujitsu, which supplied defective software to the UK Post Office. The faulty Horizon system led to thousands of post office operators being wrongly accused of embezzlement, resulting in approximately 900 wrongful convictions for theft and false accounting.
Fujitsu is currently negotiating a settlement with the UK government regarding the scandal. Despite admitting it had known since the 1990s that the Horizon system was flawed, the company has not yet resolved compensation claims for victims, which have been funded by UK taxpayers.
The Horizon system is scheduled to be replaced by a new accounting system following contracts awarded to management consultancy Accenture and software platform OneView Commerce.
Fujitsu's Role in Japan's Technology Sector
As Japan's largest IT services company, Fujitsu is expected to play a significant role in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's strategy to advance artificial intelligence and reduce dependence on the United States.
Hidenori Furuta was appointed chair in 2024 after holding various positions within Fujitsu, including chief operating officer, executive vice-president, and chief technology officer. Recently, he joined the Japan-EU Business Round Table in Brussels alongside Mikihito Saito, chair of the Japan Business Council in Europe and senior executive vice-president at Fujitsu.
When contacted by via LinkedIn, Furuta responded:
"The company statement speaks for itself."
Broader Pattern of Executive Misconduct in Japan
Furuta's resignation follows a series of similar incidents involving executives in Japan accused of inappropriate behavior towards women. Among them is an executive who resigned just over a year ago following allegations of misconduct during a social gathering outside work.
In 2023, Japan's largest oil refiner, Eneos, dismissed its president, Takeshi Saito, for misconduct at a social event while intoxicated.
One of the most high-profile cases involved a prominent figure at a leading Japanese TV network. In June 2023, the individual was accused of inappropriate conduct towards a woman at a private dinner reportedly organized by a senior Fuji TV staff member. The incident led to an advertiser boycott and a formal apology from the company.
