Career Biography

Akiko Kikuchi is an experienced general counsel with nearly 30 years of experience in the legal industry. She serves as board member and general counsel for Novo Nordisk Pharma in Japan. Her previous leadership positions include general counsel and senior operating officer for Bayer Japan, general counsel and managing director for PwC Japan and general counsel for GE Plastics Japan. She also worked in private practice for global firms in UK, HK and Japan gaining her experience in corporate law and cross-border transactions.

Akiko is a law graduate from Keio University and Oxford University where she was awarded a Jardine Matheson scholarship. She was selected as the Women Lawyer of the Year (In-House) in the ALB Japan Law Awards in 2020 and she led her former team to win multiple awards in the Healthcare, Compliance and Innovation categories for ALB and IHC In-House Industry Awards over the years.

Akiko also contributes to the broader legal community by serving as co-president of Japan In-House Counsel Network (JICN) and is one of the founding members of the Japan CLO Association serving on their Executive Board.