KUALA LUMPUR (March 28): Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd (KL:AJI) has announced the appointment of Daisaku Wadami as its new managing director and chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2025, taking over from Riichiro Osawa.

This leadership change follows the reassignment of Osawa, 53, to another role by Ajinomoto Co Inc in Japan.

Wadami, 58, holds a degree in commerce from Doshisha University and has had a long tenure with the Ajinomoto Group, having started his career at the Osaka branch and held various positions both in Japan and internationally within the group. 

Ajinomoto Malaysia also appointed Akihiko Nozaki, 44, as its new director, succeeding Noriko Fujimoto, who has also been reassigned to a new position by Ajinomoto Co. The appointment will also take effect from April 1.

In its third quarter ended Dec 31, 2024, Ajinomoto reported a 32% jump in its net profit to RM19.35 million from RM14.65 million in the corresponding quarter a year ago, as revenue rose to RM179.84 million from RM170.80 million, driven primarily by higher sales and lower raw material costs.

For the cumulative first nine months of FY2025, the company recorded a 52% increase in net profit to RM56.57 from RM37.21 million, as revenue grew 10.55% to RM534.71 million from RM483.68 million. 

The group manufactures and sells monosodium glutamate and other related retail and industrial products, such as food seasonings, flavoured salt and pepper, and sugar-free sweetener.

Ajinomoto’s shares closed two sen or 0.1% lower at RM14.58 on Friday, valuing the group at RM886 million.