Olympus CEO ousted after allegation of illegal drug purchase, shares slump

Company board asked Kaufmann to step down after investigation

20241028 Olympus CEO Kaufmann

Olympus Chief Executive Stefan Kaufmann has acquiesced to a board request that he resign. (Nikkei)

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Olympus Corp. said Monday it has sacked Chief Executive Stefan Kaufmann after an allegation that he had purchased illegal drugs, sending its shares sliding 6%.

Kaufmann, a German national who only took the helm at the Japanese endoscope manufacturer in April 2023, had been tasked with expanding Olympus' medical equipment business after preceding CEO Yasuo Takeuchi steered the company through years of asset sales.

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