Fujitsu's chairman Hidenori Furuta has stepped down from the board with immediate effect, the Japanese technology company announced on Monday. The resignation comes as the firm faces intense scrutiny over its role in the UK Post Office Horizon IT scandal.
Board Shake-Up
Furuta, who had served as chairman since 2019, will be replaced by former CEO Takahito Tokita, who will take over as chairman in an interim capacity. The company stated that Furuta's decision was made to take responsibility for the issues surrounding the Horizon system, which led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of subpostmasters in the UK.
The scandal has been one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British history, with Fujitsu's accounting software at the center of the controversy. The company has faced calls from UK politicians and victims to contribute to compensation costs, which have been estimated at billions of pounds.
Pressure Mounts
Furuta's resignation follows months of mounting pressure on Fujitsu's leadership. In January, the company apologized for its role in the scandal and pledged to cooperate with the ongoing public inquiry. However, victims' groups and MPs have accused Fujitsu of not doing enough to take responsibility.
The UK government has threatened to ban Fujitsu from future public contracts unless it contributes to compensation. The company has said it is in talks with the government about its role in the redress scheme.
Company Statement
In a statement, Fujitsu said: "Hidenori Furuta has resigned from his position as chairman of the board of directors, effective June 16, 2026. The company expresses its sincere apologies to all those affected by the Horizon IT scandal and is committed to fully cooperating with the public inquiry."
Furuta is the latest senior figure at Fujitsu to leave over the scandal. In 2024, the company's UK boss stepped down, and several other executives have been replaced.
The Horizon IT system was used by the Post Office to manage accounting at its branches. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of subpostmasters were prosecuted for theft and false accounting due to faults in the system. The scandal has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history.
Fujitsu is expected to face further questions as the public inquiry continues. The company has set aside a provision for potential compensation costs but has not disclosed the amount.
