Rakuten India has announced that Tsubasa Shiraishi will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer from August 5, 2025. The leadership transition follows the departure of outgoing CEO Sunil Gopinath, who is stepping down to pursue new opportunities.
Shiraishi currently serves as Vice Chairman of Rakuten India and General Manager of IT Strategy at Rakuten Group. His elevation signals a move to strengthen ties between Rakuten’s Indian operations and its broader global ecosystem.
Rakuten India functions as a key Global Capability Center (GCC) for the Japan-based internet services and e-commerce group. The Bengaluru-headquartered unit has taken on an increasingly central role in supporting a range of Rakuten’s businesses — from e-commerce and fintech to mobile and digital content — by developing AI, cloud, and platform solutions.
Under Gopinath’s leadership, Rakuten India expanded its influence within the group, contributing to several initiatives in automation and next-gen tech. Shiraishi has already played a part in shaping these efforts in his existing roles over the past five years.
“Tsubasa will deepen Rakuten India’s ties with the Rakuten Ecosystem and continue its unparalleled growth,” said Akihito Kurozumi, Chairman of Rakuten India and Group CIO & CTO.
Shiraishi brings nearly two decades of international experience and is expected to focus on scaling innovation and operational collaboration across borders, with a particular emphasis on India’s tech talent and capabilities.
The move reflects Rakuten’s intent to more closely integrate its India operations into its long-term global strategy.
