Reimagining the Role of CFO in Pharma at Astellas with Atsushi Kitamura

Balancing global complexity with strategic clarity, Astellas Pharma’s CFO, Atsushi Kitamura, offers a masterclass in modern financial leadership. In this wide-ranging conversation, he shares how his experience across industries shaped his adaptive approach, why understanding the business from the “real battlefield” matters, and how he partners closely with the CEO to lead transformation. From integrating AI into finance to navigating ambiguity in pharma R&D, Kitamura brings grounded wisdom to the evolving role of the CFO.