Fumihiko Sano serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Ajinomoto Foods North America, where he leads the company’s innovation agenda across R&D, corporate planning, and food safety and quality. He is responsible for advancing product and technology development and aligning innovation with the company’s strategic priorities.

Sano brings more than 20 years of experience with the Ajinomoto Group, with leadership roles across Japan, Thailand, and the United States spanning R&D, manufacturing, and global business development. He most recently served as Vice President of Research & Development at AFNA.

He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology.