Meiji University Professor Emeritus Kimiaki Aonuma Appointed as Advisor to Boots, Inc.

Boots, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Keisuke Ariga; hereinafter 'the Company') is pleased to announce that Kimiaki Aonuma, Professor Emeritus at Meiji University, has been appointed as an advisor to the Company effective June 1, 2026. Mr. Aonuma was responsible for product development and the creation of pricing and risk evaluation models at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (now MUFG Bank) as a Chief Quant. At Sony Corporation, he was engaged in building business management systems based on market demand forecasting and sales simulation, contributing to data-driven management decision-making and business operations. Furthermore, he has served as an expert in finance theory, risk management, business data analysis, and AI strategy at graduate schools including Meiji University, the University of Tokyo, Osaka University, and Hitotsubashi University, possessing cutting-edge experience and achievements in both industry and academia. By leveraging Mr. Aonuma's extensive experience and knowledge, the Company will provide advanced and effective consulting services regarding AI transformation in various industries, including finance, as well as highly specialized data analysis and DX support in the finance sector.