Tokyo – LIXIL Corporation (“LIXIL”, TSE Code: 5938), maker of pioneering water and housing products, today announced planned changes to its executive team to strengthen strategic pillars of the company’s transformation. LIXIL’s Board has approved the creation of two new Executive Officer roles: Yugo Kanazawa will be appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, and Erin McCusker will be appointed to the role of Chief Impact Officer, Executive Officer, Executive Vice President. These appointments will be effective April 1, 2026.
These changes come following the decision by Jin Montesano, who has served as Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, to step down from her executive responsibilities at the end of the fiscal year. She plans to contribute to LIXIL as a Senior Advisor, and will remain as a Director until the annual shareholders’ meeting in June.
LIXIL CEO Kinya Seto said, “On behalf of LIXIL’s executive management team and Board of Directors, I would like to express our thanks to Jin Montesano for her outstanding contributions and commitment. Jin has been a steadfast champion of change and transformation at LIXIL. Many strategic initiatives she has designed and led - from SATO, to LIXIL’s Purpose and Behaviors, our Impact Strategy to our D&I efforts - have become cornerstones of who we are as LIXIL.
“The updates we are announcing today come at a key juncture for LIXIL. Every part of LIXIL is impacted by the dramatic changes that we are seeing in our business environment, not least in areas such as AI and workstyle transformation. If we are to deliver on our purpose of making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere, we must continue to accelerate our transformation, enhance our digital capabilities and deliver positive impact. This starts by supporting our people, and investing in the priorities that enable us to become a more innovative company that delivers impact for the environment and society,” Seto added.
Following COVID, global supply chain challenges, inflation and other macroeconomic issues, LIXIL is now back on a growth trajectory. Entering this new phase, the mandate of the new COO role will be to enable the strategic vision, and accelerate change.
Along with other responsibilities, Kanazawa will oversee LIXIL’s Digital and HR functions, which together play a key role in enabling and driving the management direction outlined in LIXIL’s long-term Playbook and medium-term roadmap. The two functions led by the COO will enable rethinking of workflows, further enhancing LIXIL’s employee experience, and accelerate innovation and decision-making.
McCusker’s expanded role will allow LIXIL to strengthen and integrate the various aspects of the company’s Impact Strategy, and elevate this important priority area to an executive officer level. LIXIL is committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment, and for this to be a key point of differentiation.
*Please see disclosures here.