“The next step is to truly become a global organisation”

While the dental industry involves more materials science than it does biology or medicine, the ultimate goal remains the same: delivering the best possible solutions for patients and healthcare professionals. My background in research and development, as a physician and scientist, gives me a strong foundation in innovation. In pharma, constant renewal is essential—a principle that applies just as much to GC. We must continuously evolve to meet customer needs and support healthcare providers. This mindset will be crucial as GC embarks on the next decade.

Your appointment comes as GC enters its next century, following its 100^th anniversary in 2021. What are your immediate priorities as CEO?
Transitioning from a legacy-driven organisation to a forward-thinking global company is both a challenge and an opportunity. Our chairman of the board, Makoto Nakao, has long emphasised that GC’s future lies beyond Japan. As early as 1935, GC’s founder recognised that export would be essential for growth. Today, GC is a major Japanese company with a strong international presence, but the next step is to truly become a global organisation.

Outside our core Japanese market, expansion must focus on regions like the US, where we are still comparatively small. Europe is another key market, though it is heavily regulated and has slower growth potential. Nevertheless, maintaining a strong European presence is essential for credibility and business optimisation.

Balancing tradition with progress is crucial. GC’s core values, such as our semui corporate philosophy of putting the well-being of others before one’s own, remain at the heart of our approach. Over the next few years, our priority will be to strengthen our presence outside Japan while ensuring that our values continue to guide us.

IDS is an important platform for showcasing industry advancements. What are the key highlights for GC at this year’s show?
GC has a significant presence at IDS, offering a comprehensive range of dental care solutions. Differentiation is key in a competitive industry. GC stands out in two main ways. First, our extensive product range covers preventive, restorative and aesthetic dentistry. Second is our strong emphasis on education. Visitors to our booth can experience hands-on training, reflecting our commitment to supporting dental professionals. Dentistry is a hands-on field, and we prioritise ensuring that our customers understand and can effectively use our products.

This focus on education has been part of GC’s DNA since its founding. The GC philosophy is that we must design products with the end user in mind and provide the necessary training to ensure success.

This year’s IDS marks one of your first major industry events as GC’s CEO. What are your personal impressions of the show so far?
The scale of IDS is astonishing. Even in my 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, I have never seen an event of this magnitude. The professionalism and dedication of GC’s team have been particularly impressive. Witnessing this first-hand reaffirms my confidence in the company and the legacy of the Nakao family.

Generally speaking, we have not seen much innovation across the industry. However, one exciting development is the move toward biomaterials, such as our synthetic bone graft substitutes. These materials offer a promising alternative to animal-derived products and provide consistent quality and scalability.

Looking ahead, I expect significant advancements in dental materials and treatment approaches. Hopefully, by the next IDS, we will see a wave of new products that further enhance patient care and treatment outcomes. For GC, the focus remains on continuous improvement, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation and education in the dental industry.