Bandai Namco has Announced Major Corporate Restructuring

Highlights

• Bandai Namco Holdings is restructuring four major units: BNEX, BNFW, BNE, and Bandai.
• Departments such as Information Systems and General Affairs will be restructured and renamed.
• Divisions within Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Film Works will also consolidate licensing, production, and merchandising.

Bandai Namco Holdings has announced a corporate restructuring and executive reshuffle in four of its major business segments, taking effect on April 1, 2026. The move includes divisional realignments and key personnel changes across Bandai Namco Experience (BNEX), Bandai Namco Filmworks (BNFW), Bandai Namco Entertainment (BNE), and Bandai.

According to reports, the restructuring will reorganize internal business units to streamline decision-making, risk management, and strengthen its IP axis strategy. Several divisions will be renamed or consolidated, particularly within licensing and media operations, to centralize brand management and overseas operations.

Structural Realignment at Bandai Namco’s Management Departments

Under the new structure, Bandai Namco aims to strengthen operational and strategic functions with strong governance across the group. To ensure better governance between the group's information security and data utilization, the current Information Systems Department will be restructured as the Digital Management Department.

For better risk management, the group is transforming the General Affairs Department into the Risk Management Department. Many significant personnel from the Information Systems Department and General Affairs Department will also be assigned to new positions.

Kobayashi Satoshi will be appointed as the new General Manager of the Risk Management Department and General Manager of the Sustainability Promotion Department of the HD Group Management. Teruyuki will become the General Manager of HD Group Management Headquarters’ Digital Management Department.

The current Head and Executive Officer of corporate headquarters of Bandai Namco Studios, Matsukawa Hitomi, will become the General Manager of the HD Business Audit Office, after restructuring.

Changes Across the Four Major Bandai Namco Divisions

Bandai, the unit responsible for Bandai Namco’s Toy & Hobby Unit, will change its Vertical Scrolling Manga Editorial Department and transform it into the IP Innovation Department. The department will oversee the creation of new IPs in various fields.

The department will be headed by Togashi Nori, who will be appointed as General Manager and Director (part-time) of the IP Innovation Department. After the changes, Sarudate Osamu will become the General Manager and Executive Officer of the Card Business Division.

BNE will focus on global expansion, and AE Business Division’s 765 Productions will be renamed as the IP & Content Productions segment to support the same. The licensing department will be reorganized as the Media Department and Brand Business Department, as well.

The BNFW will also go through significant changes with an aim to strengthen licensing business, video, and IP production. Under the new framework, a new Production Management Office will be established for stable video production.

The WB Studio from the IP Business Headquarters and IP Production Headquarters will be consolidated as a new Planning and Programming Department within IP Business Headquarters. Along with the IP divisions, the merchandising unit will also be consolidated as the Sales & Product Department. The department will oversee the whole production pipeline, from planning to sales, for streamlining the production ecosystem.

Bandai Namco’s Amusement Unit, BNEX, will prioritize the expansion of the amusement business and content creation. BNEX’s Prize Business Division and Arcade Game Business Division will be renamed as the First Amusement Business Division and the Second Amusement Business Division, respectively.

Bandai Namco’s restructuring represents a deliberate shift toward a consolidated brand and content management ecosystem. Through the rebranding of divisions and the reassignment of leaders, the corporation aims to enhance its worldwide intellectual property strategy and optimize operations before Nintendo acquires all of Bandai Namco Studio Singapore’s shares.

Coinciding with the structural changes, Nintendo is reported to acquire 80% of the Singapore  studio's shares on April 1, 2026. After the changes are in effect, Bandai Namco Studios Singapore will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo.

Disclaimer: Original information was machine translated from Japanese.