Overview
- Yokoo held a press conference on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to announce his acceptance of the role and said he will formally take the chair after TEPCO’s annual shareholders meeting on June 25.
- He said his top priority is fulfilling TEPCO’s responsibility for the Fukushima Daiichi accident and described that mission as requiring urgent attention and steady leadership.
- Yokoo is a 74-year-old finance veteran who led Mizuho Securities and the public–private Japan Investment Corporation, and his selection marks the first time TEPCO’s chair has come from a financial background.
- He called for bold business-structure reform to restore earnings and said alliances with other firms are one option but he gave no concrete roadmap and will listen to executives before deciding next steps.
- Recent industry scandals, including unauthorized courtroom recordings and alleged data manipulation at another utility’s Hamaoka review, have raised public and regulator expectations that Yokoo must deliver clearer compliance and cultural change at TEPCO.