Memory Manufacturer Kioxia Appoints New Chief Executive to Steer Through AI Chip Surge

Kioxia Appoints Hiroo Oota as New CEO to Drive Growth in Memory Chip Sector

Kioxia Holdings Corp., a leading Japanese manufacturer of flash memory, has announced that Executive Vice President Hiroo Oota will step into the roles of chief executive officer and president. This leadership transition is part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its position in the rapidly expanding memory chip industry.

At 63, Oota will take over from Nobuo Hayasaka, 70, who will transition to the role of senior executive adviser. The change in leadership is pending approval at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, which is set for June, according to a statement released Thursday by the Apple Inc. supplier.

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Following the announcement, Kioxia’s stock, which has soared over twelve times since its IPO at the end of 2024, rebounded from earlier losses and climbed approximately 2%.

Kioxia’s Evolution and Market Impact

Originally spun off from Toshiba Corp., the pioneer of NAND flash memory, Kioxia has benefited from the surge in demand for AI infrastructure, which has fueled both memory chip sales and price increases. The company’s advanced storage products, such as NAND and eSSDs, are now essential for data centers and are considered critical assets for organizations competing in the artificial intelligence arena.

Oota brings decades of experience in semiconductors, having joined Toshiba in 1985. He has held various engineering positions at Toshiba Memory Corp., which eventually became Kioxia.

“Leading a memory company is incredibly challenging,” commented Akira Minamikawa, an analyst at Omdia. He noted that the memory market’s volatility requires precise investment decisions. “A successful CEO must be proactive, frequently engage with clients, and remain attuned to subtle changes in customer sentiment.”

The board determined that now is an opportune moment for new leadership, as Kioxia celebrates its first year as a public company and seeks to accelerate its expansion in response to the AI-driven boom in memory chip demand.

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