TOKYO, JAPAN: Fujitsu Ltd, Japan's largest information technology (IT) services company, said Kuniaki Nozoe stepped down as president on Friday due to illness and chairman Michiyoshi Mazuka is now doubling as president. A Fujitsu spokesman did not elaborate on Nozoe's health.

Mazuka, who joined Fujitsu four decades ago and has spent most of his career involved in the company's sales operations, will hold a news conference at 7:00 p.m. (1000 GMT).

Shares in Fujitsu were down 4.2 per cent at 616 yen, underperforming the Tokyo stock market's electrical machinery index , which fell 1.8 percent.