Rakuten India names vice chairman Shiraishi as new CEO

Rakuten Group has announced a leadership change at its Bengaluru-based technology hub, Rakuten India.

Tsubasa Shiraishi, currently Vice Chairman, will take over as CEO on August 5, 2025.

He also serves as General Manager of Rakuten Group’s IT Strategy Department and has nearly 20 years of international leadership experience.

Shiraishi has been with Rakuten India for five years and helped develop it into a strategic R&D center with around 2,000 employees.

He will succeed Sunil Gopinath, who has led the company since 2017. Gopinath is stepping down to pursue other opportunities after overseeing advancements in AI, ecommerce, and fintech.

Rakuten India is a key technology hub for the Rakuten Group, supporting global operations in ecommerce, fintech, and other services.

🔗 Source: Rakuten Group

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Strategic elevation of global tech hubs amid industry-wide leadership shifts

Rakuten’s leadership change at its India operations reflects a broader industry pattern where technology hubs in emerging markets are gaining strategic importance within global tech organizations.

Rakuten India has grown from a support center to house nearly 2,000 professionals focused on cutting-edge areas including AI, fintech, and e-commerce, making it the largest Rakuten R&D center outside Japan 1.

This transition comes during a period of significant leadership changes in the technology sector, with 2024 seeing 2,221 CEO departures—the highest annual total since tracking began in 2002 2.

By appointing Shiraishi, who simultaneously serves as General Manager of Rakuten Group’s IT Strategy Department, the company is signaling tighter integration between its Indian innovation hub and global headquarters, a strategy increasingly common among multinational tech firms seeking to maximize cross-border collaboration.

The emphasis on strengthening “cross-border collaboration” mentioned in Rakuten’s announcement aligns with industry trends where 86% of tech CEOs express confidence in their company’s growth prospects despite economic challenges 3.

2️⃣ Leadership transitions carry measurable performance implications

Rakuten’s careful handling of this CEO transition reflects awareness of the high stakes involved, as research shows nearly half of leadership transitions fail within two years.