Spica Consulting Announces Appointment of New Representative Director, President, and CEO
Spica Consulting Co., Ltd. announced that Tsuneo Watanabe has been appointed as the new Representative Director, President, and CEO, effective April 1, 2026. Under this new leadership, the company aims to elevate its services to the highest quality in Japan and contribute to the nation's economic development. The former Representative Director, Toshio Nakahara, will assume the role of Representative Director and COO, continuing to oversee business strategy.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 09:36
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 20:14 (370h 38m after Collected)
Spica Consulting Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and CEO: Tsuneo Watanabe; hereinafter "the Company"), which provides "value-up consulting" to maximize corporate value and "industry-specific M&A," is pleased to announce the appointment of Tsuneo Watanabe as its new Representative Director, President, and CEO, effective Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Under this new management structure, we aim to enhance the overall quality of our business to the top level in Japan and contribute to the development of the Japanese economy by supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Toshio Nakahara, who previously served as Representative Director, will change his title to Representative Director and COO and will continue to be engaged in the planning and execution of our business strategies.
New Appointment
|
Name |
New Position |
Date of Appointment |
|
Tsuneo Watanabe |
Representative Director, President, and CEO |
April 1, 2026 |
Position Change
|
Name |
New Position |
Former Position |
|
Toshio Nakahara |
Representative Director, COO (Chief Operating Officer) |
Representative Director |
◆ Background of the New CEO's Appointment
Since its founding, the Company has contributed to the development of the Japanese economy through the dual pillars of "top-quality, industry-specific M&A" and "value-up consulting to maximize corporate value." To further improve quality and strengthen our management structure, Tsuneo Watanabe has been newly appointed as Representative Director, President, and CEO.
Mr. Watanabe has been a driving force behind "industry restructuring M&A," which goes beyond simple matching. With a strong conviction to "support success as a manager, not just as an investor, through M&A," he has led numerous M&A deals to success, leveraging his high level of expertise in M&A and management, as well as deep industry insight and specialized knowledge.
Under the new leadership of Mr. Watanabe, who has an extensive track record in high-quality M&A and corporate value enhancement support, our company aims to elevate its three core businesses and activities to the No. 1 quality in Japan: (1) industry-specific M&A, (2) value-up consulting, and (3) asset utilization for social good. Through our support for "M&A that enables continuous corporate growth," we will forge a new future where every employee can shine.
◆ New CEO's Profile, Career, and Photo
Spica Consulting Co., Ltd.
Representative Director, President, and CEO Tsuneo Watanabe
＜Profile＞
After starting a business while studying at Kyoto University, he joined Nihon M&A Center. As the No. 1 consultant for small and medium-sized enterprise M&A, he has been a leader in the M&A industry, featured in Nikkei Veritas and other publications. He is a leading authority on industry restructuring M&A. In 2020, he became the youngest director at the company. He resigned as a director of Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc. on March 31, 2023. Subsequently, for three years, he served as an outside director and advisor for multiple listed and growing companies, contributing to the improvement of their corporate value and stock prices. He was appointed Representative Director, President, and CEO of Spica Consulting on April 1, 2026.
＜Career History＞
|
September 1983 |
Born in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture; raised in Osaka |
|
March 2002 |
Graduated from Naragakuen High School |
|
March 2008 |
Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Business Administration (Marketing Major) |
|
April 2008 |
Joined Nihon M&A Center Inc. (now Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc.) |
|
April 2016 |
Appointed General Manager of the Industry Restructuring Department at the same company |
|
April 2017 |
Appointed Executive Officer and General Manager of the Industry Restructuring Department at the same company |
|
April 2018 |
Appointed Senior Executive Officer at the same company |
|
June 2020 |
Appointed Director at the same company (resigned March 2023) |
|
June 2020 |
Appointed Director of Japan Investment Fund Co., Ltd. (resigned 2021) |
|
June 2021 |
Appointed Director of Batonz Co., Ltd. (resigned March 2023) |
|
October 2021 |
Appointed Director of Nihon M&A Center Inc. (resigned March 2023) |
|
April 2023 |
Appointed Outside Director of Geolonia, Inc. (resigned August 2024) |
|
October 2023 |
Appointed Outside Director of LDT Corporation (resigned February 2026) |
|
March 2024 |
Appointed Outside Director of BuySell Technologies Co., Ltd. (current) |
|
March 2025 |
Appointed Outside Director of CyMed Inc. (current) |
|
February 2026 |
Appointed Outside Director of Lightblue Inc. (current) |
|
April 2026 |
Appointed Representative Director, President, and CEO of Spica Consulting Co., Ltd. |
◆ Words from Business Leaders Representing Various Fields on the Appointment of the New President and CEO
On the occasion of Mr. Watanabe's appointment as our new CEO, we have received comments from business leaders from various fields who continue to enhance corporate value (*names listed in Japanese alphabetical order).
TEAMyoko-so CEO (FOUNDER of Yokohama General Accounting Firm)
Tax Accountant Keisuke Izumi
We've been waiting for you! Congratulations on your return to the M&A industry. In your previous role, you broke the conventions of the M&A industry in the accounting and other sectors, serving as the youngest full-time director of a trillion-yen market cap company. I am also greatly indebted to you. I have high expectations that you will create new value in this maturing industry and contribute to the revitalization of the Japanese economy.
BoostCapital Inc.
CEO Takao Ozawa
Watanabe-san, you're back in M&A? That's wonderful!
This return is a great thing for boosting sound M&A in Japan.
I have nothing but high expectations! Let’s boooost together!
Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University; Special Advisor to the President
Founder of KDDI Corporation
Kosei Senmoto
I sincerely congratulate you on your appointment as Representative Director, President, and CEO of Spica Consulting. With a track record built since the dawn of the M&A industry, he is an indispensable leader for the Japanese economy. I expect that he, with his vision of "M&A for managers," will establish a new standard of top quality in the industry through Spica Consulting and powerfully lead the way to the future.
SHIFT Inc.
President and CEO Masaru Tange
I met Mr. Watanabe at the Kyoto University Entrepreneurs OB Association, and we have a close professional and personal relationship, as he supported SHIFT even during his previous job. He is extremely flexible and a wonderful manager with a track record that includes starting a business as a student and becoming the youngest director at his former company. I am delighted that he is now taking the helm as Representative Director, President, and CEO, and I am confident that he will build a fantastic company that will become indispensable to society. I have high expectations!
Nanonohana Kyushu Co., Ltd.
Chairman Shigeru Nagatomi
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your appointment as Representative Director, President, and CEO of Spica Consulting Co., Ltd. We were indebted to you during the M&A of Nagatomi Pharmacy, and now all our staff are working energetically at Nanonohana Kyushu Co., Ltd. Thank you very much. I wish you, Mr. Watanabe, continued success and prosperity for your company.
◆ Interview with the New CEO and a Letter from the Former CEO
This is an interview with our new Representative Director, President, and CEO, Tsuneo Watanabe. From his formative experiences in childhood to his passion for the M&A industry and the future of "top quality" he envisions with COO Nakahara, we delve into the new CEO's thoughts.
Title: "Tsuneo Watanabe, the Leading Figure in Industry Restructuring M&A, Becomes New CEO of Spica. As an M&A Consultant, He Aims to Spread M&A for Intrinsic Corporate Value Enhancement in Japan."
Additionally, we have released a letter of greeting to all stakeholders from our former representative (now Representative Director and COO), Toshio Nakahara. Mr. Nakahara will continue to be engaged in the planning and execution of our business strategies, so please take a look.
A Letter to Our Stakeholders from Representative Director and COO Toshio Nakahara
◆ Spica Consulting Company Overview
Company Name: Spica Consulting Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director, President, and CEO Tsuneo Watanabe
Headquarters: Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower 34F, 3-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established: August 23, 2022
Business Content:
・Industry-specific M&A consulting
・Providing "value-up consulting" to maximize corporate value
Main Group Companies: 30 companies including GA technologies Co., Ltd., Itanji Co., Ltd., and RW OpCo, LLC
*Additionally, 28 companies under RW OpCo, LLC