Olympus CEO Resigns Amid Illegal Drug Purchase Allegations

Optical specialist company Olympus announced on the 28th (local time) that Stefan Kaufmann, President and CEO, has resigned.

Stefan Kaufmann, CEO of Olympus [Photo by Olympus]

In a press release, Olympus stated, "After receiving allegations that CEO Stefan Kaufmann purchased illegal drugs, Olympus immediately investigated the matter in consultation with external legal advisors, reported it to investigative authorities, and fully cooperated with the investigation." It added, "Based on the investigation results, the board unanimously determined that CEO Kaufmann likely engaged in behavior inconsistent with Olympus's global code of conduct, core values, and corporate culture. Accordingly, the board requested his resignation, which CEO Kaufmann accepted, and the board approved."

Kaufmann, originally from Germany, joined Olympus Europe in 2003 and had served as director, representative executive officer, president and CEO, executive officer, and member of the nomination committee since 2023. He stepped down from all positions on this day. Olympus stated that Yasuo Takeuchi, director and representative executive officer, will act as CEO until a new CEO is appointed.

Olympus apologized deeply to shareholders, customers, and all stakeholders for causing concern. Jiji Press reported that the Metropolitan Police Department searched locations related to Kaufmann until this day but did not find any drugs.

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