If you are CEO representing an international or even domestic brand, you must be aware of the laws and business practices around your business.  The recent trouble at the Japanese automotive manufacturer has certainly brought that light.  ‘What you don’t know, can’t hurt you’, is a fairy tale.  As the representative director, you must know your market and the CEO Meetings bring together bosses and experts that will either educate or update the c-level.  

In February, the CI welcomes back Jean-Denis Marx, a partner with Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise).  With Mr. Marx, we plan to get updates and discuss

1. Japanese criminal procedure or, what should you do if a prosecutor drops into your private jet?
2. . Japanese labor law: is the white collar overtime exemption coming for real?
3. New privacy law: the EU and Japan adopted an adequacy decision on January 23, what has changed?

Date– Tuesday, 12 February 2018

Time- 1230PM-1400PM

Venue– Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- La Cucina Restaurant (Italian)51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151 Japan

“Culture change” continues to be a buzzword in business. Many companies want it. Many invest huge energy into making it happen. Most fail. (According to a various studies, up to 90% of companies do not achieve the outcomes they set out for.) Why is culture change so elusive? 

Christopher Domitter, currently Senior Vice President, Communications at MetLife Japan, has strong views on why this is the case based on his own experience across several industries and markets in Asia. Drawing from his background as head of a wide range of corporate communications disciplines including employee engagement, sponsorship and CSR, as well as a branding and identity consultant, Christopher will lead and provoke interesting discussion around the dimensions of success and what constitutes global best practice.  

Christopher is from Vancouver Canada. He has lived in Asia for close to 25 years, including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia, working in the sports, banking, pharma and insurance sectors. He has developed brand positioning and verbal identity strategies for famous brands such as Nikon and Nissan. He is a top-notch analog photographer, a discipline (among others) that informs his understanding of design thinking – a mindset that underpins much of his approach to solving communications challenges.

Date – Friday, 8 Feb 2019 1230PM-1400PM
Venue –
Roppongi Hills Club: Roppongi Hills Club- La Cucina Restaurant
51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, 106-6151 Japan

January brings many new thoughts and resolutions. Gyms are crowded with business people trying to get healthy for the first month or so of the year. As the CEO, we don’t have the luxury of ‘letting our guard down’ in business. We must be thinking and anticipating what market forces will do for our brand, what products will blow out, and what products or services to put on the back burner.

In the first CEO Insights Network luncheon of the year, we will have to take a look at what we expect to see in 2019. Specifically, we will discuss three areas

Economic- Will we have boom or bust? What are customers looking for? Where will the USD, JPY, EURO head?
Political- What will the government be doing that may affect our staffing, our taxation, our operations costs? Is there any PC (political correctness) initiative that may hit?
Personal- How do you deal with the head office? What are the growth areas for investments in the new year? How can I be more productive personally?

You will leave the CI meeting enlightened, and no doubt inspired.

Date– Friday, 11 Jan 2019 1230PM-1400PM
Venue–
Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- La Cucina Restaurant
51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, 106-6151 Japan

P.S. In the closing moments of the meeting, we will be discussing planned speakers/topics in 2019 discussed thus far.

January brings many new thoughts and resolutions.  Gyms are crowded with business people trying to get healthy for the first month or so of the year.  As the CEO, we don’t have the luxury of ‘letting our guard down’ in business.  We must be thinking and anticipating what market forces will do for our brand, what products will blow out, and what products or services to put on the back burner.

In the first CEO Insights Network luncheon of the year, we will have to take a look at what we expect to see in 2019.  Specifically, we will discuss three areas

• Economic- Will we have boom or bust? What are customers looking for? Where will the USD, JPY, EURO head?
• Political- What will the government be doing that may affect our staffing, our taxation, our operations costs?  Is there any PC (political correctness) initiative that may hit?
• Personal- How do you deal with the head office?  What are the growth areas for investments in the new year?  How can I be more productive personally?

You will leave the CI meeting enlightened, and no doubt inspired.

As yet another year closes, many executive offices are reviewing what worked and what didn’t, what sold and what didn’t, what blew up and what overflowed. In addition to national responsibility, many of our member CEOs have other countries in Asia as well as Australia/New Zealand reporting to them. Growth is about reflecting on management mistakes as well as building management successes.

The December CEO Insights meetings is one of the most popular and well attended meetings as executives get ready for the Christmas holidays and year’s end. This will be likely be your last chance to rub elbows with Asia’s top Tokyo-based CEOs and leadership.

The meeting
Date– Tuesday, 4 Dec 1230PM-1400PM
Venue–
Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Star Anise Restaurant
51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, 106-6151 Japan

As yet another year closes, many executive offices are reviewing what worked and what didn’t, what sold and what didn’t, what blew up and what overflowed. In addition to national responsibility, many of our member CEOs have other countries in Asia as well as Australia/New Zealand reporting to them. Growth is about reflecting on management mistakes as well as building management successes.

The December CEO Insights meetings is one of the most popular and well attended meetings as executives get ready for the Christmas holidays and year’s end. This will be likely be your last chance to rub elbows with Asia’s top Tokyo-based CEOs and leadership.

The meeting
Date – Thursday, 6 Dec 1230PM-1400PM
Venue –
Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Star Anise Restaurant
51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, 106-6151 Japan

Come to one of the networks popular events as we close out the year.  The Q4 OTR gathering of CEOs with be held at Andaz Tokyo’s BeBu Cafe. Get a chance to catch up with other CEOs on the events of 2018, and be inspired for the new year.

As usual, this OTR will be a joint event bringing together of CI member CEOs and other invited c-level friends. You’ll be greeted with a welcome drink courtesy of Andaz Tokyo General Manager and CI member, Mr. Ross Cooper. Then enjoy a evening of discussion, drinks, and great food. Don’t miss this year end chance to catch up with Asia’s Top CEOs.

This is a casual meeting so you just show up and pay for whatever you consume. However, DO respond to the Doodle link so we can give the venue an idea of about how may people will be there.

See you there!

The Venue

Date: 29 Nov 2018 (Thursday)
Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Cost: Whatever you consume
Venue: BeBu on 1F of Andaz Tokyo, 1 Chome-23-4 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0001
Tel: +81 3 6830 7739

Located on the ground floor, BeBu Café & Bar specializes in original burgers, Japanese draft beer and seasonal party plans featuring classic and creative international flavors. This casual venue is perfect for lunch, dinner and happy hour drinks.

Japan has the highest density of vending machines worldwide–almost 5 million nationwide.  In fact, there is approximately 1 vending machine per every 23 people in Japan with annual sales total more than $60 billion.  Ever wonder what supply chain supports this massive industry and how a beverage product that hasn’t changed it formula in over 120 years continues to grow ?  Then come hear Edward Walters, the Head of Logistics for Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan and 20 year veteran of the Coca-Cola system explain more about this topic and how it is supplied around the world.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of our peers and global brand c-level.  We will discuss what it takes to make a brand that will last.

Date: 8 Nov 2018 (Thursday)
Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Venue: Roppongi Hills Club – La Cucina
51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi Minato-ku, 106-6151