Canon Names New Head of Canon U.S. Life Sciences

Melville, N.Y.-based Canon U.S.A. Inc., an international provider of digital imaging technology, has named Akiko Tanaka the new president and CEO of Canon U.S. Life Sciences Inc. (CLS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A. Tanaka, previously the vice president and chief operating of CLS, has also been appointed to the CLS board of directors. In this position, she will oversee the management of business initiatives relating to the development of diagnostic solutions. Ivor Knight, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief technology officer, will report directly to Tanaka to support these initiatives.

Tanaka also has recently been appointed as the president and CEO of the newly established Canon BioMedical Inc. (CBMI), which focuses on the development, manufacturing, and marketing operations relating to life science and molecular diagnostics businesses. This new company will look for long-term future growth opportunities in previously untapped markets for Canon such as life science, healthcare, and medical analysis through the use of existing and emerging Canon technology, as well as strategic partnerships.

“I am confident under the leadership of Ms. Tanaka, Canon will succeed in its mission to develop innovative technologies and solutions that assist in improving human health and in advancing science,” said Joe Adachi, chairman and CEO, Canon U.S.A.

“I am honored to take on this new role and to help align the overall biomedical strategy in the Canon Americas,” said Tanaka. “Both CLS and CBMI will work together to research, develop and bring new technologies to markets all over the world.”

Tanaka has spent 29 years working for Canon and joined Canon U.S.A. in April 2012. She began her career at Canon Inc. in 1986 as a system engineer doing software development in research and development and later joined a Strategic Alliance that handled all of Canon Inc.’s OEM business.