Yappli Announces New Executive Officer Structure to Strengthen Management System
Yappli announced a new executive officer structure to strengthen its management system and enhance corporate value in the mid-to-long term.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 20:00
Yappli Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasufumi Iohara; hereinafter "Yappli"), which provides the digital experience platform "Yappli," announced that Masashi Ichikawa (currently Executive Officer) will assume the position of Executive Officer COO, Yoshito Igashima will assume the position of Executive Officer CFO, and Minoru Mikoda will newly assume the position of Executive Officer CHRO, effective April 1, 2026, with the aim of improving corporate value in the mid-to-long term and strengthening its management system. Prior to this organizational strengthening, Ichiro Yamato assumed the position of Executive Officer CoS on January 1, 2026.
■ Background of Management System Change
Yappli, with its mission of "Making digital simple, enriching society," is promoting a multi-product strategy that comprehensively supports companies' digital experiences, centered on the app platform "Yappli," and including Web building, LINE Mini Apps, and mobile orders.
With the expansion of business domains and rapid organizational growth, further improvement in management speed and strengthening of the organizational foundation have become indispensable. In this new structure, we have enhanced our management system by appointing a "Chief Operating Officer (COO)" responsible for maximizing customer experience, a "Chief Financial Officer (CFO)" responsible for optimizing financial strategy and capital efficiency, a "Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)" as the head of organizational and human resource strategy to support sustainable growth, and a "Chief of Staff (CoS)" as the key to strategic execution.
By incorporating external expertise and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of existing management members, we aim to accelerate further growth by integrally promoting product development, business expansion, and organizational building.
■ New Executive Officer Appointments and Executive Officer Retirements (Effective April 1, 2026)
■ Introduction of New Executive Officers
Masashi Ichikawa
Responsible for the Business Division, leading the maximization of customer experience and business growth.
April 2008: Joined Apple Japan Inc. (now Apple Japan LLC)
May 2011: Joined BrainPad Inc.
December 2015: Joined Oracle Japan Corporation
May 2018: Joined Yappli Inc.
July 2020: Head of Customer Success Division, Yappli Inc.
April 2026: Executive Officer COO (Chief Operating Officer), Yappli Inc.
Yoshito Igashima
Responsible for improving corporate value through capital policy and financial strategy. Certified Public Accountant.
December 2004: Joined Tohmatsu Audit Corporation (now Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC)
January 2013: Joined Esco Co., Ltd.
February 2014: Joined paperboy&co. Inc. (now GMO Pepabo Inc.)
March 2014: Director, Head of Management Strategy Department, GMO Pepabo Inc.
March 2017: Managing Director, CFO, Head of HR Division, GMO Pepabo Inc.
July 2023: Representative Director and President, GMO Creators Network Inc.
April 2026: Executive Officer CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Yappli Inc.
Minoru Mikoda
Responsible for organizational and human resource strategy, and participates in strengthening the "UNITE by Yappli" business.
April 1998: Joined a major trading company, subsequently participated in the launch of three startups.
April 2008: Joined Recruit Co., Ltd., served as General Manager of Business Planning, etc.
April 2015: Transferred to ITmedia Inc., became Head of HR Department from 2017.
April 2021: Visiting Associate Professor, GLOBIS University (current position)
June 2023: Joined Media Do Co., Ltd., became Executive Officer CHRO from 2024.
December 2025: Joined Yappli Inc., Head of People & Culture Division.
April 2026: Executive Officer CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer), Yappli Inc.
Ichiro Yamato
Oversees management administration, leads the execution of company-wide strategy, and drives growth through M&A and PMI.
April 2010: Joined Recruit Co., Ltd.
February 2017: Joined Yappli Inc.
April 2018: Head of President's Office, Yappli Inc.
April 2023: Head of Management Administration Division, Yappli Inc.
November 2024: Head of Management Administration Division & Head of People & Culture Division, Yappli Inc.
January 2026: Executive Officer CoS (Chief of Staff), Head of Management Administration Division, Yappli Inc.
◾️About Yappli Inc.
Yappli Inc., with its mission of "Making digital simple, enriching society," provides a digital experience platform that connects and enhances the experience between companies and their customers/employees. They offer "Yappli," a no-code app development platform, "Yappli WebX" for next-generation web building, "Yappli MiniApp" for LINE Mini App development, and "Yappli MobileOrder" for mobile ordering. Through these services, the total number of companies introduced to Yappli's services exceeds 1,300.
Yappli ：https://yapp.li/
Yappli WebX ：https://webx.sites.yappli.com/
Yappli MiniApp : https://miniapp.yapp.li/
Yappli MobileOrder：https://yappli-fc.co.jp/
UNITE by Yappli ：https://unite.yapp.li/
Headquarters: Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower 41F, 3-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Area Branches: Grand Front Osaka North Building 8F (Osaka), Signature Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City 8F (Fukuoka)
Representative: Yasufumi Iohara, Representative Director
Business Activities: Development and provision of "Yappli," "Yappli WebX," "Yappli MiniApp," and "Yappli MobileOrder"
FAQ
When will Yappli's new executive officer structure take effect?
The main new structure will take effect on April 1, 2026, with some appointments already made on January 1, 2026.
What new executive positions have been established?
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), and Chief of Staff (CoS) have been appointed.
What is the purpose of this organizational strengthening?
It aims to improve management speed, strengthen the organizational foundation, and enhance corporate value in the mid-to-long term, responding to business expansion and rapid organizational growth.