Bengaluru: Rakuten Group, Inc. has announced a leadership transition at Rakuten India Enterprise Private Limited, appointing Tsubasa Shiraishi as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 5, 2025. Shiraishi currently serves as Vice Chairman of Rakuten India and General Manager of Rakuten Group’s IT Strategy Department.
The appointment reflects Rakuten Group’s continued investment in strengthening cross-border collaboration and driving innovation across its global ecosystem. Shiraishi brings close to two decades of international leadership experience and has played a pivotal role in steering Rakuten India’s strategic R&D agenda over the last five years.
Since its inception in 2014, Rakuten India, headquartered in Bengaluru, has grown into a critical technology center for the Group, employing nearly 2,000 professionals across functions such as e-commerce, fintech, platform services, and AI. With his dual strengths in technology and business, Shiraishi is well-positioned to deepen Rakuten India’s integration with the Group’s broader digital transformation efforts.
In his new role, Shiraishi will focus on accelerating innovation, enhancing operational agility, and advancing strategic synergies between Rakuten India and key Rakuten markets globally.
Sunil Gopinath, who has served as CEO of Rakuten India since 2017, will step down to pursue new opportunities. Under his leadership, Rakuten India evolved into a key global product and technology hub, delivering impact in AI, cloud, commerce, and fintech.
Reflecting on the leadership transition, Gopinath stated, “Tsubasa Shiraishi brings a deep understanding of our technological strengths and strategic priorities. For over five years, he has worked closely with the India leadership team, offering clear direction and helping us scale our impact across the Rakuten Ecosystem. His sharp strategic thinking, superb rapport and deep respect for our teams make him exceptionally well-positioned to lead Rakuten India into its next phase of innovation.”
Akihito Kurozumi, Rakuten Group CIO & CTO and Chairman of Rakuten India, added, “As we enter this new chapter for Rakuten India, I am delighted to welcome Tsubasa Shiraishi as CEO. Shiraishi brings a deep understanding of our Group strategy and a proven track record of building cross-border business synergies to the position. I am confident that under his leadership, Rakuten India will deepen its ties with the Rakuten Ecosystem and continue its unparalleled growth as a vital part of our global vision. On behalf of the Rakuten Group, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Sunil for his visionary leadership and lasting contributions. During his tenure, Rakuten India evolved into a key innovation engine for the Group, driving advancements across AI, e-commerce, fintech and more.”
Commenting on his new appointment, Tsubasa Shiraishi said, “It is a great honor to take on the role of CEO at this pivotal moment. I am excited to lead Rakuten India into its next phase of growth while working closely with our global teams and partners. Over the years I have been greatly impressed by the Rakuten India team’s capability and contributions to the wider Rakuten Group. Together, we will strengthen our strategic alignment with the Group and unlock new opportunities that benefit our customers worldwide.”
This leadership change marks a strategic milestone for Rakuten as it continues to position India as a core hub for innovation, digital transformation, and global collaboration.
