Honda Racing Corporation will have new leadership from 1 January 2027, with Keiichi Yasuda set to become HRC president and CEO following the retirement of Koji Watanabe at the end of 2026. Keiichi Yasuda currently serves as Executive Vice President and Representative Director of HRC and will take over responsibility for Honda’s global motorsport operations.
The leadership change forms part of a planned personnel rotation designed to strengthen HRC’s management structure in response to global transformation and accelerate the expansion of its activities for the next generation.
Keiichi Yasuda to become Honda Racing Corporation president and CEO
Honda Racing Corporation announced the change in a press release, confirming that Koji Watanabe will step down from his current position when Keiichi Yasuda officially takes over at the beginning of 2027.
“Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announces the appointment of a new President and CEO. Koji Watanabe, currently President and CEO, will step down from his position effective January 1, 2027. He will be succeeded by Keiichi Yasuda, currently Executive Vice President and Representative Director, who will assume the role of new President and CEO of HRC.”
Since taking on the roles of Operating Officer, Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations and General Manager of the Corporate Communications Division at Honda’s headquarters in 2020, Koji Watanabe has overseen Honda’s branding and communication strategies, including its motorsport activities.
Koji Watanabe became President and CEO of HRC in 2022 and has led Honda’s motorsport operations for approximately six years in total. His tenure has included important changes to the company’s global racing structure as Honda prepared for a new chapter in international motorsport and Formula 1.
Keiichi Yasuda brings extensive Honda management experience
Keiichi Yasuda joined Honda because of his admiration for the company’s culture and motorcycle racing, with the ambition of working either in Honda’s motorcycle sales division or at HRC in Asaka.
Keiichi Yasuda began his career in human resources at Honda’s headquarters and subsequently gained extensive experience in the field. His career also included serving as president of local motorcycle subsidiaries in Asia, fulfilling one of his long-standing professional ambitions.
More recently, as Operating Officer and Head of the Human Resources Unit — Honda’s most senior position within its human resources division — Keiichi Yasuda worked on the development of the company’s human capital management. In April 2026, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Representative Director of HRC.
Koji Watanabe reflects on transformation of HRC
Following confirmation of his retirement, Koji Watanabe reflected on the development of Honda Racing Corporation and the integration of Honda’s motorcycle and car racing programmes.
“It has been an honour to serve as President of HRC alongside outstanding colleagues,” Koji Watanabe said. “In 2020, when I became responsible for motorsport-related activities and communication as Honda’s Chief Officer for Brand and Communication Operations, I launched the project to integrate automobile racing development within HRC.”
“Previously, HRC was a company dedicated to motorcycle racing, and I also integrated the automobile activities into it. In 2022, I became President of the new HRC, unifying the motorcycle and automobile racing activities.”
That restructuring formed part of a wider expansion of Honda’s motorsport operations. During Koji Watanabe’s presidency, Honda also decided to return to Formula 1, while its international racing organisation was expanded.
“Since then, we have decided on our return to F1, expanded our global motorsport structure by reorganising HPD in the United States into HRC US and creating HRC UK, and worked on building the global HRC brand.”
Honda’s Formula 1 programme has continued to develop alongside those organisational changes, with the company also working on the performance of its next-generation power unit. GP-News has previously examined Honda’s latest engine development work at Sakura.
Koji Watanabe added that his immediate focus remains unchanged during the final months of his presidency.
“In the three months remaining in my term as President, I will continue to give my very best, aiming for victory until the end.”
Keiichi Yasuda sets out his priorities for HRC
Keiichi Yasuda, who will officially become HRC president and CEO on the first day of 2027, outlined his ambition to build on the organisation established under Koji Watanabe while strengthening its focus on winning across motorsport.
“I consider it my mission to firmly inherit and preserve the solid foundations built by Watanabe,” Keiichi Yasuda said. “To evolve them further, unite everyone towards a single objective — winning in competition — and make HRC even stronger.”
Keiichi Yasuda also highlighted his management and human resources background as an important part of the approach he intends to bring to Honda Racing Corporation.
“Drawing on my management experience as president of local companies overseas and my background in human resources, I will focus on investing in people and strengthening our organisation with the aim of achieving victory.”
“I will devote all my energy to building an HRC whose challenges can engage our stakeholders and motorsport fans, so that we can share the excitement of victory together.”
The transition will therefore mark the end of a significant period in HRC’s development under Koji Watanabe and the beginning of a new leadership phase under Keiichi Yasuda as Honda continues expanding its global motorsport operations.
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