Is Kitao Really the New Face of Fuji Media? Shocking Board Seat Potential! 😱

Oh, what do we have here? According to a charming little report from Nikkei this Monday, Dalton Investments—a U.S.-based investment firm that seems to know a thing or two about stirring the pot—has suggested none other than Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of SBI Holdings, as a potential board member for Fuji Media Holdings. Now, if you’re not familiar with Fuji Media, it’s only Japan’s largest media conglomerate, no big deal. 😏

Now, Dalton isn’t exactly known for its subtlety. The activist investor, clearly thrilled with Fuji’s current “leadership,” has previously voiced its dissatisfaction with how the company has been run. Because, who wouldn’t want to spice up a media giant’s governance? 🤔

This year, in a bid to convince shareholders that they weren’t entirely out of their minds, Fuji Media announced a grand restructuring. It was supposed to restore some kind of trust—although, let’s be honest, that trust was likely busy vacationing on a beach somewhere. 🏖️

And, as part of this “restructuring,” Chairman Shuji Kanoh bid us adieu in January, taking Fuji TV head Koichi Minato along for the ride. The board was trimmed down to a mere 10 members, presumably to make room for more efficient chaos. Hisashi Hieda, the octogenarian (yes, 87, darling) director, also decided it was time to quit in March. Retirement has its perks. 🛋️

The latest proposal, courtesy of Dalton, is something to behold. The U.S.-based firm clearly isn’t satisfied yet and is looking to shake things up even more. This, of course, means more management changes—because what’s a good show without a few plot twists? 🎭

But wait, here’s where it gets really interesting—Kitao, our main man, is a long-time ally of Ripple, the San Francisco-based blockchain firm. Back in 2019, he graced Ripple’s board of directors, though he gracefully exited after two years. His most recent tweet? Oh, just casually showcasing Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin—no big deal. 🪙

For those not in the know, Fuji Media is home to Fuji TV, a network that’s basically Japan’s answer to everything entertaining—drama series, variety shows, anime, and all the digital media you could possibly crave. But let’s be clear—this is not to be confused with Fujifilm, the company that makes cameras. We all love a good camera, but we’re talking about media here, darling. 🎥

2025-04-14 08:34

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