Hidenori Furuta resigned as chair of Fujitsu on Tuesday after the company's board became aware of his "woman-related inappropriate conduct." The Japanese technology firm, which is at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal, announced his departure in a stock market filing, stating that Furuta requested to resign as director effective 16 June.
Details of the Resignation
Fujitsu said it has withdrawn Furuta's candidacy as a non-executive director at its annual shareholders' meeting later this month. A company spokesperson confirmed that "there was inappropriate conduct" that was "woman-related," but provided no further details, according to the Financial Times.
Context of the Scandal
Fujitsu has been under scrutiny for supplying faulty software to the Post Office in the UK, leading to thousands of post office operators being falsely accused of embezzling funds. Approximately 900 individuals were wrongfully convicted for theft and false accounting. The company is currently negotiating a settlement with the UK government but has not yet contributed to the £1.5bn compensation bill for victims, despite admitting it knew about the Horizon system's faults since the 1990s.
The Horizon system is set to be replaced by a new accounting system implemented by Accenture and OneView Commerce.
Fujitsu's Role in Japan
As Japan's largest IT services company, Fujitsu is expected to play a leading role in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's efforts to advance in AI and reduce reliance on the US. Furuta, who became chair in 2024, previously served as chief operating officer, executive vice-president, and chief technology officer at Fujitsu. He recently participated in the Japan-EU Business Round Table in Brussels.
When contacted by Reuters via LinkedIn, Furuta stated, "The company statement speaks for itself."
Similar Incidents in Japan
Several Japanese executives have lost their jobs over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Notable cases include Shinji Aoyama, an executive vice-president at Honda, who resigned in 2023 after an allegation of misconduct at a social gathering. In the same year, Japan's largest oil refiner, Eneos, dismissed its president, Takeshi Saito, for alleged misconduct while intoxicated.
The most high-profile scandal involved Masahiro Nakai, a former member of the boyband Smap, who was alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at a private dinner arranged by a senior Fuji TV staff member. Fuji TV faced an advertiser boycott and later apologised.
