Kotaro Akiyama has been the President and CEO of Japan's Asahi Shimbun Co Ltd since June 2005. Before that, he had been the company's Managing Director/ Circulation since September 2003. He joined The Asahi Shimbun in 1968 and has held numerous management positions within the company, including: Board Director Circulation; Board Director/ Managing Editor, Tokyo Head Office; and Director/ Production Division, Tokyo Head Office.