Leadership
Board of Directors
Toru Nishikawa
Co-Founder, Chairman
Daisuke Okanohara
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Hiroshi Maruyama
Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee Chair), PFN Fellow
Hiroshi Maruyama assumed his current position at Preferred Networks (PFN) in September 2025. He originally joined PFN in 2016 and, from 2020 to 2024, was seconded to Kao Corporation, where he served as an Executive Fellow. Before joining PFN, Maruyama was a Professor at the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), beginning in 2011. Earlier, he spent more than two decades at IBM, joining in 1983 after completing his master’s degree at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. At IBM’s Tokyo Research Laboratory, he conducted research in artificial intelligence, machine translation, middleware, and security, and in 2006 was appointed Director of the laboratory. Maruyama holds a Ph.D. in Engineering.
Hiroshi Maruyama assumed his current position at Preferred Networks (PFN) in September 2025. He originally joined PFN in 2016 and, from 2020 to 2024, was seconded to Kao Corporation, where he served as an Executive Fellow. Before joining PFN, Maruyama was a Professor at the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, part of the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), beginning in 2011. Earlier, he spent more than two decades at IBM, joining in 1983 after completing his master’s degree at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. At IBM’s Tokyo Research Laboratory, he conducted research in artificial intelligence, machine translation, middleware, and security, and in 2006 was appointed Director of the laboratory. Maruyama holds a Ph.D. in Engineering.
Outside Directors
Kaname Masuda
Outside Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Kaname Masuda is an experienced legal and governance professional who has served in senior roles across numerous public companies and organizations, including Director and Audit Committee Member at GMO Internet Group, Director and Audit Committee Member at Nomura Securities, and External Auditor at au Financial Holdings, among others. He also serves as Managing Partner of Masuda Partners, the law firm he founded in 2008. Before establishing his own firm, Masuda served as Head of Legal and Executive Officer at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities (now BofA Securities), which he joined in 1998. Masuda began his career at Nishimura & Partners (now Nishimura & Asahi) after being admitted to the bar in 1990.
Shinichi Koizumi
Outside Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Shinichi Koizumi has served as an Outside Director of Preferred Networks since 2019 and has concurrently served as an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member. Previously, he served as the Standing Audit & Supervisory Board Member of DeNA Co., Ltd., a role he assumed in 2017, as well as a Director of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) beginning in 2016. From 2015, he acted as Advisor to Toray Industries, Inc., while concurrently serving as a Director of Obayashi Corporation. Koizumi previously held senior leadership positions at Toray Industries, Inc., where he began his career in 1971. He advanced through roles including Director, Senior Managing Director, and Executive Vice President, ultimately becoming Representative Director and Executive Vice President in 2008. Beginning in 2013, he served as Senior Advisor to Toray and Chairman of the Board of Toray Management Research Institute. He brings decades of experience in corporate management, auditing, and governance.
Hiroyuki Morikawa
Outside Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Hiroyuki Morikawa currently serves as an Outside Director of Preferred Networks as well as a Professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering, where he is engaged in research and education. He has held multiple leadership positions in Japan’s information and communications sector, including Chair of the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Director of the Beyond 5G New Business Strategy Center, Chairman of the Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ), and President of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE). Through these roles, he plays a central part in shaping Japan’s ICT policy and driving technological innovation. In 2012, he served as Vice Chair of the OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy, focusing on ICT policy and international collaboration. Morikawa began his academic career at the University of Tokyo as a Research Associate in the Faculty of Engineering in 1992. He was appointed Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering in 2006 and Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) in 2007.
Management Team
Naoto Ono
Chief Operating Officer, Division President of Corporate Planning
Naoto Ono joined Preferred Networks (PFN) in April 2025 to oversee corporate planning and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in November 2025. Before joining PFN, Ono served as Head of Venture Architecture for the Asia-Pacific region at BCG X, the digital and innovation arm of Boston Consulting Group, where he led new business creation and digital transformation initiatives for global clients across the region from 2020. Ono previously joined Mercari in 2014, where he served as Head of Business Development. In this role, he led the launch of payment, logistics, and new business initiatives, contributing significantly to the company’s IPO. Earlier, he worked at Amazon Japan, where starting in 2011 he led the launch of the student-focused Prime service Amazon Student and contributed to the development of Amazon Books in Japan. Ono began his career at NTT DOCOMO, where he worked in international business, corporate planning, and investor relations after graduating from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics. He later earned an MBA.
Naoto Ono joined Preferred Networks (PFN) in April 2025 to oversee corporate planning and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in November 2025. Before joining PFN, Ono served as Head of Venture Architecture for the Asia-Pacific region at BCG X, the digital and innovation arm of Boston Consulting Group, where he led new business creation and digital transformation initiatives for global clients across the region from 2020. Ono previously joined Mercari in 2014, where he served as Head of Business Development. In this role, he led the launch of payment, logistics, and new business initiatives, contributing significantly to the company’s IPO. Earlier, he worked at Amazon Japan, where starting in 2011 he led the launch of the student-focused Prime service Amazon Student and contributed to the development of Amazon Books in Japan. Ono began his career at NTT DOCOMO, where he worked in international business, corporate planning, and investor relations after graduating from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics. He later earned an MBA.
Yotaro Katayama
Chief Financial Officer
Yotaro Katayama joined Preferred Networks (PFN) as Chief Financial Officer in May 2024. Prior to joining PFN, he was a co-founder and board member at MNTSQ where he oversaw engineering and finance for the company's legal tech AI SaaS business as well as finance-related functions. While at MNTSQ, he earned his Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 2023. Before MNTSQ, Katayama was a co-founder and a board member of BEDORE (now PKSHA Workplace), where he helped launch a general-purpose conversational AI engine based on natural language processing technologies. He began his career at Goldman Sachs Japan after completing his Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering in 2016.
Yotaro Katayama joined Preferred Networks (PFN) as Chief Financial Officer in May 2024. Prior to joining PFN, he was a co-founder and board member at MNTSQ where he oversaw engineering and finance for the company's legal tech AI SaaS business as well as finance-related functions. While at MNTSQ, he earned his Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 2023. Before MNTSQ, Katayama was a co-founder and a board member of BEDORE (now PKSHA Workplace), where he helped launch a general-purpose conversational AI engine based on natural language processing technologies. He began his career at Goldman Sachs Japan after completing his Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering in 2016.
Masaaki Fukuda
VP of Engineering, Division President of Technology Planning
Masaaki Fukuda was appointed Vice President of Engineering (VPoE) at Preferred Networks in 2025. Since transferring to Preferred Networks (PFN) from PFN's predecessor Preferred Infrastructure (PFI) in 2016, he has overseen engineering, product and service development, and business strategy. Prior to joining PFI in 2013, he was responsible for planning, development and operation of mobile game titles at GREE where he built and executed business strategies. Fukuda began his career at Sony in 2000, contributing to the development and operation of PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Network. He holds a Master’s degree from the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Tokyo Institute of Technology, completed in 2000.
Masaaki Fukuda was appointed Vice President of Engineering (VPoE) at Preferred Networks in 2025. Since transferring to Preferred Networks (PFN) from PFN's predecessor Preferred Infrastructure (PFI) in 2016, he has overseen engineering, product and service development, and business strategy. Prior to joining PFI in 2013, he was responsible for planning, development and operation of mobile game titles at GREE where he built and executed business strategies. Fukuda began his career at Sony in 2000, contributing to the development and operation of PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Network. He holds a Master’s degree from the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Tokyo Institute of Technology, completed in 2000.
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