ClassNK appoints new President & CEO and Executive Vice President

(Posted on 27/03/25)

Current ClassNK Senior Vice President Hayato Suga has been appointed as President & CEO as well as Representative Director of ClassNK and current Corporate Officer Fumihiko Higashi has been appointed as Executive Vice President, effective 21 March 2025.

Former President & CEO Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors, while former Chairman of the Board of Directors Koichi Fujiwara has assumed the position of Advisor to the Society.

Speaking on the occasion, newly appointed President & CEO Hayato Suga said: “The business environment is changing rapidly, with boundaries between industries becoming increasingly blurred due to environmental challenges and digital transformation. In response, our mission is to provide certification and related services in a timely manner to meet these diverse and fast-evolving needs, just like a top sushi chef serves the finest ingredients at the perfect moment. By doing so, we aim to connect industries through trust and contribute to the sound development and sustainable operation of the maritime sector."

Hayato Suga earned his bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Hiroshima University in 1986 and joined ClassNK the same year. He gained experience in plan approval and on-site surveys and later managed survey activities in Europe and Africa from the London Office. Returning to Japan, he contributed to tanker standards development and was an active member and chairperson of the Tanker Structure Co-operative Forum. He later held key positions such as Director of Plan Approval Division and Director of Planning Division, and was appointed Executive Vice President in 2022 and Senior Executive Vice President in 2024.