Sunstar is a global company with Japanese heritage

Michel Pettigrew

Chairman

Michel became Chair of the Board in 2024. He has over 45 years’ business experience and is a former long-term president and COO of the pharmaceutical business, Ferring Group. He also held senior leadership positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb for over 23 years. Michel’s current non-executive roles include IRRAS Holdings and family-owned Hovione.

Mayumi Kaneda

Board Member

Mayumi joined the Board in 2025. The eldest child of Hiroo Kaneda, Mayumi first joined Sunstar in 1991, leading on various initiatives, including the establishment of the Group Global Headquarters in Switzerland. She has been a Director of the Sunstar Foundation since 2005 and has been a Fellow of the Board of Harvard School of Dental Medicine since 2021. She received her MBA from SDA Bocconi Business School in Italy in 1999.

Marcel Schmid

Board Member

Marcel joined the Board in 2025. With over 30 years' experience in corporate governance and finance across public and private companies, he has held senior management positions at UBS Investment Banking and DKSH. He holds an MBA from IMD Business School, Lausanne. He is the President of the Swiss-Hong Kong Business Association and a member of the Advisory Board to the Family Governance & Family Office Excellence Program organized by the Europa Institute at the University of Zurich.

Yuji Okamoto

Chair of the Executive Committee

Group Finance and Technology

Yuji leads the global finance and IT functions. He joined Sunstar in 1986 and has built up extensive experience, primarily within finance. He has played a pivotal role in Sunstar's international expansion, contributing to the establishment of the Industrial Business headquarters in Singapore, as well as the Sunstar Group and Consumer Business headquarters in Switzerland. In 2016, he became Chief Financial Officer and has since led the development and execution of financial strategies from a global perspective as the head of financial management for the Sunstar Group, supporting the enhancement of corporate value and sustainable growth.

Yuji holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Business Administration at Kwansei Gakuin University.

Akihiko Kuroki

CEO, Consumer Business

Akihiko was appointed CEO of Sunstar’s Consumer Business in October 2025. He began his career as an engineer at IBM Japan and in 1996 joined P&G Japan, where he was appointed as the first Japanese Brand Manager for one of its top global brands at the U.S. headquarters. He later held senior leadership roles in Japan and Asia, including Vice President for P&G Asia, and the region’s first Japanese CMO, leading marketing, strategy, and talent development. At Rakuten, he oversaw Japan’s largest DTC business, and at Johnson & Johnson, he led the integration of Dr.Ci:Labo and served as President of Kenvue Japan.

Akihiko majored in Physics at the University of Tokyo and holds an MBA from Duke University. He is bilingual in Japanese and English, with extensive international leadership experience in Japan, the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Masaki Ukai

CEO, Industrial Business

Masaki was appointed CEO of Sunstar’s Industrial Business in October 2025. Since joining the company in 1989, he has worked in R&D for automotive adhesives and contributed to technical services, technology transfer, quality auditing, and talent development. He led the launch of research centers and managed operations in Japan, Asia, and the U.S. From 2007, he held executive roles across several group companies within Sunstar’s engineering business, overseeing operations in Thailand and Asia, and serving as COO.

Masaki holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Osaka Institute of Technology. With deep expertise in both technology and management, he has extensive international experience across Japan, China, Thailand, and the United States.

René Bujard

Group HR & Corporate Communications

René leads the Human Resources & Corporate Communications function. He joined Sunstar in August 2023 as HR Director for EMEA and the Group HQ in Switzerland. He began his career and spent over two decades at P&G where he worked in both business unit and corporate HR roles in a wide variety of international locations across Asia, Europe and the Americas. René also led the HR function at Oxfam as Global HR Director in a time of transformational change, and increased scientific and operational excellence as HR Director at Galderma.

René holds a master's degree in Commercial and Industrial Sciences from the University of Geneva.

Wieland Noetzold

Group Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)

Wieland has headed Sunstar’s global agenda for Governance, Risk Management, Insurance Management, ESG, and Internal Audit since 2024. He joined Sunstar in 2010, having previously held compliance and finance-related management positions at Ciba-Geigy, Syngenta, and Novartis in Switzerland and Japan. At Sunstar, he first started as Director of the Finance and IT Department at the Swiss Headquarters before being promoted to Executive Officer in charge of Corporate Management for Europe and Head of Corporate Planning.

Wieland holds a Doctorate from Radboud University, Netherlands, and is Vice President of the Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

Andrew Thorson

Secretary of the Board

Group Legal

Andrew joined Sunstar in 2025 as Group General Counsel, bringing over 30 years of global legal experience spanning private practice and senior in-house roles in the automotive, industrial, and building solutions sectors. Before joining Sunstar, he served as General Counsel EMEALA at Johnson Controls and previously led the company’s international legal and compliance functions through complex restructuring and transformation. Earlier in his career, he was Global General Counsel at Nissan Motor Corporation in Japan.

Andrew holds a Juris Doctor from Boston University, an LL.M. in Japanese Civil Law from Kyoto University, and a BA from Michigan State University.

Akihiko Kuroki

CEO, Consumer Business

Akihiko was appointed CEO of Sunstar’s Consumer Business in October 2025. He began his career as an engineer at IBM Japan and in 1996 joined P&G Japan, where he was appointed as the first Japanese Brand Manager for one of its top global brands at the U.S. headquarters. He later held senior leadership roles in Japan and Asia, including Vice President for P&G Asia, and the region’s first Japanese CMO, leading marketing, strategy, and talent development. At Rakuten, he oversaw Japan’s largest DTC business, and at Johnson & Johnson, he led the integration of Dr.Ci:Labo and served as President of Kenvue Japan.

Akihiko majored in Physics at the University of Tokyo and holds an MBA from Duke University. He is bilingual in Japanese and English, with extensive international leadership experience in Japan, the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Michele Brown Beecker

Consumer Business USA/Canada

Michele joined Sunstar in 2019 and has been responsible for the Consumer Business in Canada and the United States since 2025. She has worked in Global and Local Commercial positions, most recently driving sustainable, profitable growth for the GUM brand, across North America. Prior to joining Sunstar, she held senior leadership roles with Nestle and Johnson & Johnson, driving growth and market share across leading brand portfolios. She brings over 25 years of experience in strategic brand building and new product innovation.

Michele holds an MBA from Queen’s University in Canada and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology from the University of British Columbia.

Satoshi Fukui

Consumer Business Europe

Satoshi joined Sunstar in 2025 as Managing Director for the Consumer Business in Europe. He brings over 25 years of international leadership experience spanning the automotive, pharmaceutical, management consulting, and medtech industries. Before joining Sunstar, he was Chief Business Officer at Twenty Twenty Therapeutics, a joint venture between Verily and Santen, where he led the company’s transition to a commercial-stage business. He previously held senior roles at Santen Pharmaceutical in both Geneva and Osaka and worked as a Consultant and Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group in San Francisco and Tokyo.

Satoshi began his career at Nissan Motor Company and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Eduardo Perez

Consumer Business LATAM

Eduardo joined Sunstar in 2004 and has been responsible for the Consumer Business in LATAM since 2023. He has played a key role in expanding the company’s presence in Latin America, strengthening distributor and retailer partnerships, and contributing to the growth of the GUM brand. Prior to joining Sunstar, he served as General Manager at Industrias Mexicanas Maluc where he helped the company become an industry leader. With over 25 years of management experience in the consumer goods and manufacturing industries, he brings extensive expertise in driving business growth and improving profitability.

Eduardo holds a master’s degree in business administration (MEDEX) from IPADE and a B.S. in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Universidad Anahuac.

Kimio Shibata

Consumer Business Japan/Asia

Kimio has been leader of Sunstar’s Consumer Business in Japan and Asia. He joined Sunstar in 1991 and began his career in sales. He subsequently contributed to sales expansion in the sales management division, gained extensive experience in business operations through business planning, and led business planning across the entire Asia region. In 2015, he was appointed as Representative Director of Sunstar Inc. Since then, he has held key positions including Executive Officer for the Asia and Japan in 2018 and Senior Executive Officer for the Japan region from 2021, leading the growth of the Consumer Business in Japan.

Kimio holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the Faculty of Literature at Kyoto Prefectural University.

Loek Blokker

Consumer Business Global Export Markets

Loek joined Sunstar in 2015 and he has been responsible for global export markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to joining Sunstar, he contributed to business expansion through over 25 years of experience in international distributor management and sales management in the medical device and healthcare industry, including his role as Distributor Manager at Alere International, where he expanded sales.

Loek holds a Registered Nurse Qualification and a Postgraduate Certificate in Intensive & Coronary Care Nursing, both obtained in the Netherlands.

Isabelle Botticelli

Consumer Business Supply Chain & Quality

Isabelle joined Sunstar in 2025 as Global Head of Supply Chain & Quality for the Consumer Business. She brings over 30 years of experience in operations, supply chain, and innovation across both multinational corporations and start-ups. Prior to joining Sunstar, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Mootral, an Agritech start-up, and previously held leadership roles at GSK, Novartis, and Unilever.

Isabelle has led major transformation programs and managed global teams across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. She holds a degree in Food Technology and an Advanced International Management Degree from ESSEC Business School.

Christine Truillet

Consumer Business Marketing

Christine joined Sunstar in 2018 and leads our Global Marketing function. Prior to her role at Sunstar, she was a member of the North America leadership of the Crafts business at global manufacturer Coats. Previously, she was a Director at P&G and a Group Business Leader at the Gillette Company. At Sunstar, she leads the global development of our portfolio of brands, including GUM.

Christine holds an MBA from Aston University in Birmingham, UK, and an MBA in International Affairs from the ICN Business School, France.

Jennifer Jianwen Zhu

Consumer Business Research & Development

Jennifer joined Sunstar in 2025 as Global Head of R&D for the Consumer Business. She brings over 30 years of global experience in product innovation and R&D leadership across companies such as Galderma, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. At Galderma, she led global innovation for dermatological skincare, including the growth of Cetaphil and the acquisition of Alastin. Her earlier roles included leading the Beijing Innovation Center at P&G and driving regional Oral Care strategies at J&J.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Guangdong Institute of Technology and has worked in China, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.S.

Masaki Ukai

CEO, Industrial Business

Masaki was appointed CEO of Sunstar’s Industrial Business in October 2025. Since joining the company in 1989, he has worked in R&D for automotive adhesives and contributed to technical services, technology transfer, quality auditing, and talent development. He led the launch of research centers and managed operations in Japan, Asia, and the U.S. From 2007, he held executive roles across several group companies within Sunstar’s engineering business, overseeing operations in Thailand and Asia, and serving as COO.

Masaki holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Osaka Institute of Technology. With deep expertise in both technology and management, he has extensive international experience across Japan, China, Thailand, and the United States.

Hitoshi Ohno

Chemical Division Japan

Hitoshi has been leader of the Chemical Division in Japan. He joined Sunstar in 1990, beginning his career in research and development (R&D), specializing in adhesives and sealants for automotive applications. After leading efforts to enhance product capabilities as Head of the Technical Department, he was appointed Representative Director of Sunstar Engineering Inc. in 2015. In 2018, he became Senior Executive Officer responsible for new business development and research within the Industrial Business, playing a central role in driving the business forward ever since.

Hitoshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Toyama.

Wally Palen

Chemical Division Americas/Europe

Wally has been leader of the Chemical Division in the Americas and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in fields such as automotive manufacturing and specialty adhesive technologies, he has played an active role in diverse markets including the United States, Europe, Japan, and Mexico. Before joining Sunstar, Wally led the production engineering division at Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America. He later served as Vice President of Manufacturing at Mitsubishi Electric Automotive Americas, where he successfully improved employee retention and cross-departmental efficiency.

Wally holds a bachelor’s degree in logistics from the Ohio State University.

Xu Lianlong

Chemical Division China/Asia

Lianlong was appointed as the head of the Chemical Division in China and Asia region in 2025. He joined Sunstar in 1997 and built his experience primarily in the technical development and sales of adhesives for construction and automotive applications. Since relocating to China in 2004, he has contributed significantly to business expansion across the region. In 2013, he was appointed Executive Officer for the Industrial Business in China, and has held key leadership roles in the Industrial Business throughout China and Asia.

Lianlong graduated from Shenyang Jianzhu University and holds a master's degree from the Graduate School of Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Yoshinori Mayama

Chemical Division Global Research & Development

Yoshinori leads Global R＆D function for the Chemical Division. After joining Sunstar in 1993, he has been engaged in R&D for many years, driving Sunstar's advanced technical capabilities. From 2011, he relocated to China for eight years, contributed to local technology development and business growth. In 2018, he was appointed Executive Officer for the Industrial Business Research in the Asia and Japan. He has since held several key leadership roles, including Executive Officer for the Industrial Materials Business.

Yoshinori holds a master's degree in Materials Development Chemistry from the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology at Shinshu University.

Toshiyuki Toumura

Chemical Division Global Sales

Toshiyuki leads Global Sales function for the Chemical Division. He joined Sunstar in 1989 and built his career as a sales representative for automotive adhesives. From 2006, he spent four years in the United States and helped promote Sunstar’s technical capabilities. In 2013, he became a director of Sunstar Engineering Inc. and Executive Officer responsible for Sales for the Industrial Business in Japan the following year. In 2019, he was appointed Senior Executive Officer for the Industrial Business in the Americas, and has since held key positions, contributing to its growth.

Toshiyuki holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Gifu University.

Hiroshi Wada

Chemical Construction Division
Japan/Asia

Hiroshi was appointed as the head of the Chemical Construction Division in Japan and Asia. He began his career at Sunstar in 1980 as a sales representative for construction adhesives in Japan. Since then, he has contributed significantly to business expansion in both sales and marketing. After serving as General Manager of Sales, he was appointed President of Sunstar Engineering Co., Ltd. in 2009. In 2013, he became Executive Officer overseeing the Chemical Division within the Japanese Industrial Business and has since played a key role in driving the sustainable growth of the building materials business.

Hiroshi graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Kanagawa University.

Sadayuki Sugai

Metal Core Division Global

Sadayuki served as the global head of the Material Core Division. After joining Sunstar in 1994, he built his career specializing in logistics and contributed to business operations and management through his experience in the corporate planning department. He relocated to Singapore and was appointed Representative Director of PT. Sunstar Engineering Indonesia in 2015, contributing to the expansion of the motorcycle and automobile business in the region. Since 2018, when he became Executive Officer for the Industrial Business in the Asia and Japan, he has supported the development of the MC Division as its regional head.

Sadayuki holds a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Ryukoku University.

Quek Kwang Peng

Metal Core Division Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain

Quek leads Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain for the Metal Core Division. After joining Sunstar in 1998, he was involved in establishing the Industrial Business R&D function in Singapore, providing technical support and product development to Thailand and Indonesia Factories. In 2004, he led the launch of a Press Line Production and ATV Disc Assembly line in the United States and then was instrumental in factory operations as Plant Manager in Singapore from 2010. In 2022, he was appointed Director of Sunstar Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Quek holds a bachelor's degree (Second Class Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS).