The Walt Disney Company announced Friday the appointment of Tamotsu Hiiro as managing director for Japan. He will report to Disney APAC president Luke Kang.

Hiiro will take over the Japan leadership role from Carol Choi, who led the territory for Disney for the last five years. Choi will maintain her regional executive responsibilities as evp for APAC studios, original content strategy, networks and integrated marketing. Under Chois leadership, Disney+ rose to become a top streaming platform in Japan, and a robust Japanese original content pipeline was established. A seasoned executive with over 35 years of leadership experience, Hiiro previously served as president and CEO of McDonalds Japan and president of Johnson Johnson Japan. In his new role, he will oversee the growth of Disneys entertainment businesses in Japan and act as the companys senior representative.

We are thrilled to have such an accomplished leader like Hiiro-san take the helm of our Japan business, as we continue to deepen our consumer connections in this incredibly important market, Kang said in a statement. I believe his deep market insight, strategic business acumen and extensive local network will bring our Disney Entertainment business to new heights in Japan. Hiiro-san will build on the solid foundation of growth spearheaded by Carol Choi, who has made an indelible impact on our Japan business and will continue to partner with me on many strategic, key pillars of our APAC business.

I am delighted to join such an iconic and respected global company like The Walt Disney Company, which has generations of stories and characters that millions of Japanese consumers love, said Hiiro. As Japan grows in strategic importance as a consumer and content hub for the entertainment industry, I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the exciting momentum of the company.