Transition to a Board of Directors Structure and Launch of New Executive Management Team
ARK Co., Ltd. (Head Office: 57-7 Sengokugashi, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa, Japan; Yosuke Kurihara, Representative Director & CEO; hereinafter “ARK”) hereby announces that, pursuant to a resolution adopted at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 23 December 2025, the Company transitioned to a company with a Board of Directors effective the same date and has established a new executive management structure as set out below.
■ Purpose of the Transition to the New Structure
ARK is building a strong management foundation to support its global expansion and business diversification, with the aim of realising its mission: “To create systems and a culture that enable land-based aquaculture anywhere, by anyone.”
Through the transition to a company with a Board of Directors, ARK will enhance the speed of decision-making, clearly separate management oversight from executive functions, and establish a more robust governance framework.
Under the new structure, ARK welcomes Dr Yukihiro Maru, who has led the development of deep-tech ecosystems, as an Outside Director, and Mr Masaru Suzuki, who brings extensive experience in corporate legal affairs and public-interest activities, as Corporate Auditor. Through these appointments, the Company will further enhance transparency and objectivity in management and strive to maximise sustainable corporate value.
■ New Board and Executive Structure
Yosuke Kurihara
Director & CEO
Isamu Yoshida
Director & COO
Koyo Takenoshita
Director & CTO
Yukihiro Maru
Non-Executive Director
Masaru Suzuki
Corporate Auditor
■ Newly Appointed Officers: Profiles and Messages
Yukihiro Maru
Non-Executive Director
【Biography】
PhD (Agriculture). While in graduate school in 2002, he founded Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. together with fellow science and engineering undergraduate and graduate students. He commercialised Japan’s first “cutting-edge science delivery experiment classes.”
Through the creation of the world’s first “Knowledge Manufacturing” model—combining technologies and expertise from diverse disciplines to generate new industries—he has built one of Asia’s largest deep-tech venture ecosystems. He works alongside start-ups, established corporations, universities and financial institutions worldwide to address global-scale challenges.
He has been involved in the founding of numerous venture companies, including Euglena Co., Ltd., and oversees the management of a group comprising 30 companies, including overseas subsidiaries in Southeast Asia.
【Message】
I see tremendous potential in ARK’s vision and in the technological capabilities that bring it to life—potential to fundamentally transform the way our society functions.
Guided by the philosophy of “resting the oceans and regenerating the seas,” ARK’s decentralised, circular land-based aquaculture model as a regenerative company presents a new approach that reconciles reduced environmental impact with stable food production.
We will expand this initiative globally, advancing science and technology while contributing meaningfully to the regeneration of our planet.
Masaru Suzuki
Corporate Auditor
【Biography】
Partner at TMI Associates. He also serves as Specially Appointed Professor at Chuo University Law School and as Advisor to the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
He specialises in corporate law matters including corporate governance, M&A and venture finance, providing legal services across a broad spectrum of clients ranging from start-ups to publicly listed companies.
In his capacity as Advisor to the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, he is involved in public-interest initiatives such as improving the living environments of fish and cetaceans, environmental conservation, education and regional development. Drawing on these diverse perspectives, he contributes to corporate legal risk management and the establishment of robust governance frameworks.
【Message】
“I am honoured to join ARK as Corporate Auditor at this important stage in its development.
Drawing on my experience in legal practice at TMI Associates, as well as my activities with organisations such as the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, I will carry out fair and rigorous audits as the Company transitions to a governance structure with a Board of Directors.
I am committed to contributing to the establishment of a strong and trusted management foundation that earns the confidence of all stakeholders.”
■ About ARK
Head Office:
57-7 Sengokugashi, Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa, Japan
Representative:
Yosuke Kurihara, Director & CEO
Established:
2020
Business Activities:
Development, manufacture and sale of land-based aquaculture technologies, equipment, materials and services; production, processing and sale of seafood products.
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