Suntory Chairman Niinami steps down after probe into his purchase of dietary supplements

The major Japanese brewer company Suntory Holdings Ltd. announced on Tuesday that chairman Takeshi Niinami had resigned due to an ongoing investigation regarding dietary supplements he allegedly purchased.

Niinami, a well-known 66-year-old Japanese businessman who was the president of Lawson Inc., is a member of the government’s Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy and the chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.

Nobuhiro Torii, president of Suntory Holdings, expressed regret for Niinami’s resignation, which became effective on Monday. According to the company, there was “no need to wait until the end of the investigation” because Niinami’s actions were inappropriate for a chairman.

Niinami insisted that he purchased the supplements believing them to be legal, according to the company.

After returning from overseas on Monday, he offered to resign “for personal reasons,” said Kenji Yamada, Suntory’s executive vice president, at a press conference also attended by Torii.

The company said that Suntory unanimously requested Niinami’s resignation at a board of directors meeting.