# Akinobu Shimada

> Akinobu Shimada is CEO of Hitachi Vantara and president of Hitachi Vantara Japan, a mechanical-engineering graduate who has spent more than three decades inside Hitachi's storage and data infrastructure businesses. His career has moved between Japan and the United States and across product planning, technical strategy, corporate strategy, and global operations. Since becoming global CEO on April 1, 2026, he has made trusted, AI-ready data infrastructure and long-term value creation the center of his public message.

- **Role:** CEO of Hitachi Vantara and President of Hitachi Vantara Japan
- **Organizations:** Hitachi Vantara, Hitachi Vantara Japan, Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Data Systems
- **Education:** Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo City University (then Musashi Institute of Technology)
- **Known for:** Built more than 30 years of experience across business, technical, and product strategy in Hitachi's storage and related hardware and software businesses., Helped lead the integration of Japan's IT products organization with Hitachi Vantara's global data infrastructure business., Named among CRN's Top 25 IT Innovators within its 2026 Top 100 Executives list.

## Career timeline

- **1989** — Joined Hitachi, Ltd.
- **2014** — Moved to the United States on assignment with Hitachi Data Systems as senior vice president of corporate strategy and planning.
- **2016** — Became deputy general manager of Hitachi's IT Products Division.
- **2020** — Joined Hitachi Vantara LLC in the United States as chief product planning officer.
- **2021** — Became a corporate officer and general manager of the IT Products Division.
- **2024** — Became president and representative director of the newly launched Hitachi Vantara, Ltd. in Japan.
- **2026** — Appointed CEO of Hitachi Vantara effective April 1 while continuing as president of Hitachi Vantara Japan.

## Achievements

- Built more than 30 years of experience across business, technical, and product strategy in Hitachi's storage and related hardware and software businesses.
- Helped lead the integration of Japan's IT products organization with Hitachi Vantara's global data infrastructure business.
- Named among CRN's Top 25 IT Innovators within its 2026 Top 100 Executives list.
- Led Hitachi Vantara as its Norman, Oklahoma manufacturing site was recognized in 2026 by the World Economic Forum's Global Lighthouse Network after reporting a 77% reduction in order-to-ship lead time and a 50% inventory reduction.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Highlighted momentum for VSP One and framed it as evidence of customer trust in Hitachi Vantara's support for critical applications and data.
- **2026-08** — Recognized by CRN as one of its Top 25 IT Innovators of 2026 and credited the company's engineers and partners.
- **2026-08** — Highlighted the World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse recognition for Hitachi Vantara's Norman, Oklahoma operation, citing a 77% lead-time reduction and 50% inventory reduction.
- **2026-04** — Began serving as CEO of Hitachi Vantara while remaining president of Hitachi Vantara Japan.

## Links

- Website: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/company/leadership/akinobu-shimada
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akinobu-shimada-51492346

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/akinobu-shimada
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27