Masataka Shimizu

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Masataka Shimizu (born June 23, 1944) is a Japanese businessman who led Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) as president and CEO from 2008 to 2011. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture and graduated from Keio University in 1968. He joined TEPCO and by 1983 oversaw general affairs at the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant. He became TEPCO president in June 2008.

TEPCO faced major problems during his tenure, including the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. After the disaster, Shimizu stayed at TEPCO’s headquarters for two weeks, then took a leave of absence and resigned on May 20, 2011; Toshio Nishizawa replaced him. He also served as vice-chairman of Keidanren until stepping down after the disaster.

In 2012 he became an outside director of Fuji Oil Company, and after AOC Holdings absorbed Fuji Oil in 2013 he continued as a director of the new Fuji Oil. TEPCO is a major shareholder of Fuji Oil, owning about 8.7% of the stock. In 2022, a Tokyo court held Shimizu and four other TEPCO executives liable for about ¥13 trillion in damages to TEPCO shareholders, though the amount they must pay will depend on their assets.