Fujitsu chair resigns amid 'inappropriate conduct' allegations, latest in string of scandals

Fujitsu's chair, Hidenori Furuta, has resigned following allegations of 'woman-related inappropriate conduct', the latest in a string of scandals for the Japanese tech firm.

Scandal-plagued fujitsu faces another blow as chair quits amid misconduct claims

The resignation comes just days after Fujitsu announced it would withdraw Furuta's candidacy for a non-executive director role at its annual shareholders' meeting.

Fujitsu's statement did not provide further details on the nature of the allegations, but confirmed the board had become aware of Furuta's inappropriate conduct and requested his resignation, which he submitted effective June 16.

This latest scandal adds to Fujitsu's troubled history, particularly in the UK where it supplied faulty software to the Post Office, leading to thousands of branch owners being falsely accused of theft and false accounting. The company has yet to contribute to the £1.5 billion compensation bill for victims, despite acknowledging the system's flaws since the 1990s.

In Japan, Fujitsu is expected to play a key role in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's efforts to boost the country's AI capabilities and reduce reliance on the US. As Japan's largest IT services company, the Furuta scandal is a significant setback for the tech giant.

Furuta had been chair since 2024 and previously served as chief operating officer, executive vice-president, and chief technology officer. He recently joined the Japan-EU Business Round Table in Brussels, along with Mikihito Saito, chair of the Japan Business Council in Europe and senior executive vice-president at Fujitsu.