CEO Insights Executive Group

Spring Reception With Tokyo's Leading CEOs
2022-04-14 18:30 - 20:30 (Asia/Tokyo) | The Grand Hyatt @ Roppongi Hills, 6-10-3 Roppongi 6F, Minato, Tokyo, 106-0032, Japan
Our network of CEOs and other c-levels from diverse industries such as banking, power generation, technology, consumer products, luxury good and countless others are excited to gather for what was supposed to be a Spring reception back in 2021. That never worked out, but now the stops are all out. On Thursday, 14 April 2022, the CEO Insights members will gather to welcome the new year and SPRING to, reconnect with peers in our network, and even meet new guest CEOs.
To kick off 2022, we will gather for food and drinks in Tokyo’s swanky Roppongi district. The meeting will be held at The Oak Door Steakhouse the event will be pay as you go.
Space is limited so please sign up soon to secure your spot.

Bitcoin RELOADED— A Financial Revolution?
2022-04-12 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
Last year US headline inflation hit a 39 year record high 7%. The Fed is signaling rate rises this year in attempt to quell this inflation, meanwhile the US sovereign debt sits at an unprecedented $30 trillion. How much can the Fed really raise rates in this environment? Where is monetary policy headed as governments of the world seek to manage debt and structural deficits while paying for ever increasing social security while fighting a global pandemic? Finally, how does Bitcoin fit in with all this, and how is it different to alternative cryptocurrencies, private sector payment (Alipay, PayPay, etc., ) or even Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)
In the February CI network meeting, we will welcome a special guest (that will go unnamed). This gentlemen hails from the United Kingdom and is very active in the the topic area personally. In this interactive discussion, we will cover

Is Bitcoin digital gold?
Bitcoin’s killer app: self-sovereignty and security.
Bitcoin’s Achilles Heel: Privacy?

This is what many of you have been asking for so we’re excited to share this information in our group. Please remember to RSVP. Last month we couldn’t get everyone around the table but thankfully we were able to get everyone in the room.

Why I Quit My Job to Start An NFT Company
2022-03-17 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
This month, we’ll finish the third and final installment on digital commerce. In the Thursday CEO Insights group, we’ve discussed the metaverse, Bitcoin, and we’ll close the cyber series with the hot topic of NFTs. Is it something that affects our businesses? The answer to the question may vary but we’re excited to welcome Mr. Marty Roberts.

Dr. Marty Roberts, PhD, is psychologist, spent 20 years in healthcare, and a serial entrepreneur. Marty quit his job to use NFTs to make graffiti artists cash with his new start up www.totemo.art. Join us for this riveting discussion on

What are NFTs and what does this technology promise
What industries they will mostly impact
Why a c-level would quit his day job to work in the industry

We’re excited to wrap up the digital series with another person who is not selling us something, but actually giving us a glimpse of their business.
Reserve your space below

March Tuesday Group Event
2022-03-08 12:30 - 14:00

Industry In Upheaval- The Future Of The Global Automotive Market
2022-03-08 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
The global auto industry stands on the brink of unprecedented change and upheaval. From the challenges of electrification and autonomous driving to the arrival of interloping upstarts from Silicon Valley and China, the global car business is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation. Unprecedented sums of money are being invested on future technologies as automakers – old and new – race to make inroads into uncharted territory, banking on a future that is anything but guaranteed. What bets will pay off? Which automakers will survive the fight? And what will cars look like in the decades to come? In an age of uncertainty, the only inevitability is that there will be winners and losers.
Hans Greimel, Asia Editor for Automotive News, will discuss these topics and more, from his perch in Tokyo where he has covered Japanese automakers and their Asian rivals since 2007. Hans recently co-authored a book about the Nissan-Carlos Ghosn scandal, “Collision Course, Carlos Ghosn and the Culture Wars that Upended an Auto Empire,” published in June 2021 by Harvard Business Review Press. Detroit-based Automotive News was founded in 1925. It is the leading source of automotive news and the newspaper of record for the global industry.

Bitcoin — A Revolution Disguised As A Get Rich Scheme?
2022-02-17 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan

Hot legal topics in Japan - Is Your Business Keeping Up?
2022-02-08 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
In the February network lunch, we will welcome back Baker McKenzie Partner Jean-Denis Marx for a tour of legal issues in Japan. Mr. Marx is a seasoned attorney with a robust array of legal business experience. We plan to touch on
> Changes affecting online platforms (privacy issues, ecommerce, online slander)
> The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
> Foreign direct investments restrictions in Japan and elsewhere
This is a non-limitative list. The lunch will be interactive and Mr. Marx has accepted to discuss any other issues you would like to bring to the table.

2022 Jan (Thur) The Metaverse: Who, When, How, and Why?
2022-01-20 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
What is the Metaverse? Why did such a massive entity like Facebook make the risky move of rebranding itself META?
Understanding the metaverse is complicated, especially because it doesn’t exist yet. Although interoperability is a long way off, the term has become a catch-all for new digital, immersive, and social spaces encompassing gaming platforms, NFTs, VR, AR, cryptocurrencies and online marketplaces.
Some very big companies are putting big money into this space, and money tends to make things happen.
Let’s talk about which companies are likely to be the major players? Will efforts to create a unified metaverse or a multi-verse configuration likely succeed?
How other companies can get involved in a commercial sense?
What will be the dominant technology VR or AR? How will NFTs, cryptocurrencies and blockchain be involved?
It may be fun to explore how each of the members feels about living in a virtual world versus the real world. It seems different age groups feel differently about this.
Don’t miss this interactive session led by Excape Entertainment CEO Mr. James Fiorillo

POSTPONED- 2022 Jan (Tues)
2022-01-11 12:30 - 14:00
THIS EVENT has been moved to 20 January. There will be no event on 11 January.

2021 Dec (Tues) Year End Wrap Up- Better Boss, Better Business
2021-12-07 12:30 - 14:00 | Tokyo American Club Central (Nihonbashi), 3-2-1, Nihonbashi Muromachi (Nihonbashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 6F), Chuo, Tokyo, 103-0022, Japan
PLEASE NOTE VENUE IS DIFFERENT-
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.
Don’t miss it!
*Space is extremely limited (to 10 bosses) due to the room. Please be sure to register below.
**VENUE – Please note that the meeting will be held in Nihonbashi (not Roppongi) this month. If you are a member of the Tokyo American Club, you can pay directly at the venue. For guests, please bring 3,500 JPY cash. If you would like to pay via bank transfer please let us know in advance.
***Validated Parking Available up to 4 hours.

2021 Dec (Thur) Year End Wrap Up- Better Boss, Better Business
2021-12-02 12:30 - 14:00 | Tokyo American Club Central (Nihonbashi), 3-2-1, Nihonbashi Muromachi (Nihonbashi Muromachi Mitsui Tower 6F), Chuo, Tokyo, 103-0022, Japan
PLEASE NOTE VENUE IS DIFFERENT-
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.
Don’t miss it!
*Space is extremely limited (to 10 bosses) due to the room. Please be sure to register below.
**VENUE – Please note that the meeting will be held in Nihonbashi (not Roppongi) this month. If you are a member of the Tokyo American Club, you can pay directly at the venue. For guests, please bring 3,500 JPY cash. If you would like to pay via bank transfer please let us know in advance.
***Parking Available up to 4 hours.

2021 Nov (Thur) Japan's Luxury Market Shifts - The New Normal Or Nothing New?
2021-11-18 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- PROTEUS Room, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
Following the war, Japan rose to the second largest economy in the world. That economic power translated into buying power that brought some of the worlds best brands to the marketplace. As China has arisen and Japan is one of the first countries to experience an aging populace things may have changed. Retailers in the major shopping hubs such as Ginza, Namba, Sakae may have seen a transition from local buyers to international visitors from around Asia buying up their fine products. Where is the Japan market heading for luxury goods? Who is the target audience? What are the types of products that they are most interested in within luxury?

In the November, we are pleased to welcome Mr.Nicolas Villeger , the new representative director and CEO of Louis Vuitton brand in Japan, and fellow CI network member. Mr. Villeger is no stranger to great products as the former president of Coach Asia, VP of Tesla, as well as executive roles at Longchamp and Este Lauder. He will share his thoughts on

the current market in Japan and COVID impact
the interdependency of the luxury markets in Asia and influence of China
personal views on the future key strategies for growth

Join us for this fascinating talk on the state of the luxury goods market. It will be interesting to compare with the thoughts of Chopard’s boss earlier this year.

Members, please RSVP below to secure your seat. Guest c-levels please contact us to check for availability in the meeting.

2021 Nov (Tues)-The Physics of Talent
2021-11-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
Talent is the great challenge of humanity for the 21st century. Whereas the previous century saw a great liberation of human ability from antiquated bonds of classism, racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry, the challenge of the current century will be identifying, refining, and channeling human ability into those avenues most conducive to human thriving. The challenge is all around us, from the elementary school classroom to the industrial factory floor to the corporate boardroom. The liberation, maximization, and coordination of human ability will drive the fate of our species.
What role will private enterprise play in addressing this challenge? All companies struggle with the basic reality that there is simply not enough talent to do everything companies wish to do. The problem manifests in millions of unfilled job openings, a byzantine rent-seeking recruiting industry, costly outsourcing and consulting firms, and a woefully underserved market for corporate training and ‘reskilling’.
Can we accurately quantify talent? Can we then reliably train adults in ways that measurably improve their proficiencies making them demonstrably more effective workers? Can we correlate training inputs to positive business outcomes in a repeatable fashion? The company that figures this out will not only have a massive competitive advantage relative to its peers, but will have also tapped a trillion dollar market that will influence the fates of billions.
Join us for the November CEO Insights luncheon with Jonathan Bethune. Mr. Bethune believes the best way to understand this challenge is by conceiving of it as a physics problem. With the right perspective, companies can refine their approach to corporate training in ways that ensure optimal ROI

2021 Oct (Thur)- Collision Course: Carlos Ghosn and the Culture Wars That Upended an Auto Empire
2021-10-14 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
The October CEO Insights meeting will be another meeting for network CEO members enjoy! Veteran journalist Hans Greimel will speak about the recent book he co-authored with fellow writer William Sposato: Collision Course – a fast-paced chronicle of the spectacular downfall of Carlos Ghosn, the legendary auto executive who saved Nissan only to be charged with multiple counts of financial misconduct during his time at the top. As long-term automotive media specialist, Hans Greimel will
• Share insights on the Ghosn Scandal and it’s repercussions
• The inter-company conflicts constantly bubbling beneath the automotive alliance’s veneer of amity
• The future of the industry and the competing groups that power it

This meeting will be moderated by Jochen Legewie. Join us for this interactive meeting that has come up many times in our CI groups. Hear the inside story. SPACE IS LIMITED so please RSVP quickly. More on the speakerGreimel is an award-winning American business journalist based in Tokyo, where he serves as Asia Editor for Automotive News, overseeing coverage from Japan, China, and South Korea. He has been writing about Nissan and the alliance for more than a decade and has interviewed Carlos Ghosn multiple times, including one-on-ones after Ghosn’s arrest. Collision Course co-author Sposato, who is unable to attend the October luncheon, is a veteran correspondent who has been Tokyo-based for more than twenty years, with senior roles at Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. He is currently a contributor to Foreign Policy magazine and a consultant to corporations and government bodies on communications issues.Want to prepare in advance for the meeting? Check out their book here.

2021 Oct (Tues)- Getting And Keeping Good People In Japan and Navigating National Immigration
2021-10-12 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
As an island nation, Japan is positioned in a great location as a gateway to Asia. It can also be seen as the last stop on the way out to North and South America. Global companies have struggled to find the right people in Japan and pivoted to Singapore or Hong Kong. As those are not always the best options, we are seeing global leaders looking back at Japan as a key location in Asia.

In this month’s CEO Insights Network luncheon we will have special guest, Mr. Yoshito Kiijima. Mr. Kiijima studied to be a lawyer changed as he say the strong needs companies had for getting the right people in the right positions. Yoshito will lead us as we cover

How to get international talent into Japan and keep them productive in your firm
What the biggest mistakes companies make on staffing with foreign nationals
Some case studies of how some organizations have used immigration successful, and how others have failed
Should a foreign-born JP resident naturalize and take citizenship?

Yoshito is a partner at Ernst & Young’s immigration arm called EY Immigration Co. He speaks native English and Japanese. More on on Yoshito here

2021 Sept (Thur) - Four Things You MUST Understand About Asia- A Geopolitical Discussion
2021-09-16 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
Japan’s historic role in Asia as viewed from several significant global perspectives. The west, China, Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN each view Japan and their relationships with her from very different view points, colored by their history with the country. And, Japan sees herself in an equally divergent way, also very much affected by her history and role in the region. These viewpoints color the relationships between these nations, and the way in which they trade, conduct diplomacy, and cooperate within international institutions. A quick flip of the map can help to understand how that came to be, and how it affects doing business in the region as a foreign party.
Four Things We Will Cover-
– How the world views Asia and Japan especially, based on their context in history.
– How Japan views the world and Asia especially, based on its context in history.
– How Taiwan got sandwiched in between these things.
– How all of this is shaping the march of current events, and the likelihood of a coming armed conflict in east Asia.
In this month’s CEO Insights lunch, we will welcome Robert Moss. Robert is a former US navy officer and helicopter pilot. Internationally experienced leader with extensive cross-cultural experience. Business Operations, program management, customer relations, business development and sales experience in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Extensive strategic planning, networking, team building, human resources, and personnel management skills developed over 30+ years in the Aerospace and Defense sector.

2021 Sept (Tues)- How Business Organizations Can Help Your Bottom Line- A Meeting With The CCIFJ
2021-09-14 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
In CEO Insights, we hear a lot about the business issues of our members as well as outside guest c-levels in Japan and globally. One area that we’ve been wanting to cover was the role of business and professional organizations in winning business, influencing good governance and other areas. Americans extensively used their embassy and chamber to get American cars and aerospace in Japan, the Brits have used their influence to promote UK military products and defense aerospace, and recently German universities have to promote and sell electric vehicle prototypes within Japan to Yamato. How important are these professional organizations in winning the hearts and minds of new customers nationally?
In the Sept CI network lunch, we will welcome Mr. Nicolas Bonnardel, the Executive Director of the CCI France Japon (the French Chamber of Commerce In Japan). It’s reported that the CCIFJ has just taken over as the largest foreign chamber organization in Japan. In this closed door, open discussion with CI bosses, Mr. Bonnardel will share his thoughts on

Cases of what companies did to win business locally in their industries
How A Chamber can positively influence business
Strengths and weaknesses of the JP market

Join us for this time of better understanding how to get your business into positive flow as you interact with other market leaders.

2021 Aug (Thu)- The Future Of Luxury Goods. Accelerated – A Talk with Chopard Japan’s Boss
2021-08-19 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
The virus fears of 2020 may be recorded in history as the most massive disruption to the retail business ever. In particular, luxury goods have felt the pain of the challenge for clients to get into the beautiful stores despite their prime locations. It may have been tough, but high-end luxury is timeless and most brands are here for years to come. High quality goods will continue to be in high demand. One key trend that significantly accelerated during the crisis is “Sustainable Luxury”.

Chopard announced the “Journey to Sustainable Luxury” already in 2013, when most people in the industry did not even know what sustainability is. Since 2019, Chopard is the first brand to produce all its jewellery and watch creations with 100% ethical gold, leading the industry into a new era of CSR.

Mr. Thomas Dobeli, President of Chopard Japan will be sharing his insights on the future of luxury. Chopard is one of very few remaining independent and family owned global luxury brands. Recently, Thomas was invited to give guest lectures at Kyoto University’s MBA class as well as Hitotsubashi University ICS’s MBA class on this topic. Thomas is a long time resident of Japan and is a native Swiss that brings his brand to life in Japan.

Come join CI for another fascinating topic and lunch meeting.

More on our guest CEO Thomas Dobeli here.

***This is a members-only event. If you are a c-level and would like to visit, please contact the CI admin team to check for available outside guest seats at the table for this event.

2021 Aug (Tues) - Building A New Business With OLD Buildings
2021-08-10 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
As a network of able CEOs, both younger and older, we always enjoy hearing about other people’s businesses. We’ve enjoyed discussions with major software global CEOs, global retailers, local robot manufacturers, and countless other dives into various businesses.
For some reason, the English media has a news cycle that restarts every year or so about the millions of vacant or abandoned properties around the nation. Some say for as little as ¥50,000 JPY ($500 USD). Many times associated with population decline or the move from the smaller towns and cities to the major metro areas such as Osaka, Tokyo, or Fukuoka, vacant properties seem to be a major problem for municipalities around the country. But our friends at Akiya & Inaka see it differently.
In the August CI Network luncheon we will welcome Matthew Ketchum, Co-Founder, Akiya & Inaka. Matthew will share how he and his business partner created an alternative real estate business model that turns a perceived problem into practical opportunity.
The accepted akiya narrative posits that Japan’s vacant buildings are categorically condemnable for all but the most committed DIY hobbyists and irredeemably rural, but Akiya & Inaka have proven that this is not the case. $500 or $500,000 or more, there are akiya of all types at all levels of viability, and they’re being used for more than just vacation homes or bed & breakfasts. Join us for this fascinating discussion that gives us the real deal on what the story on the ground is. Who knows? You may even come out of it with a new property.
More about Matthew Ketchum here on Linkedin, with his company website here.

15 July (Thurs)- How To Be An Effective CEO
2021-07-15 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
The higher one goes in an organization, the heavier the weight of management, and success, can be. Budgets, hiring, strategic planning, new product roll outs, CSR… the list can go on… and on. How can a boss get things done, work to be responsive, and find new business without blowing up personally? There are many tools, techniques, and insights that you can get for GTD (getting things done) and even having some time to enjoy your personal life.

This month’s CI luncheon is a hot topic. No guest speakers, just an ‘all cards on the table’ interaction (or as much people want to share) on how you can be a better leader, and more effective CEO. Please join us for insights from your peers in this meeting led by the CI chairman to cover-

How to turn ‘overwhelming’ into organized

Identifying and utilising delegation in your teams to keep the business growing

Software, services, tools, and techniques for meeting corporate and personal objectives

Projecting positivity, proactive, and admirable leadership to clients, leadership, and

This opportunity will not only allow you to discover best practices, but to find out what works for your peers in leadership in other industries.

2021 July (Tues) The Future Of Work, Management, And Motivation- A Discussion With Audio Giant JABRA
2021-07-13 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
Over the last year, both inside and outside of the CI network business leaders have discussed the future of work. The larger companies have predicted a complete move to WFH (work from home), while medium-sized businesses have questioned the productivity of the team. For employees, eliminating the commute cuts an hour or two of transport out of their day. However, the loss of in-person collaboration seems to have an effect on productivity. What’s the real story on the ground?
In July’s CI network luncheon we will welcome Danish audio manufacturer Jabra’s boss Mr. Yasushi Ando. Mr. Ando will share how Jabra sees the market as work from home generated incredible demand for Jabra products for both personal and corporates. He will also give us insights on how companies are changing, as well as how they actually keep doing the same thing.
Network Members– Please RSVP below if you would like to participate. Guests– Please contact us via our contact form if you would like us to check about getting a spot at the table.
More about Mr. Ando here on L-in

CANCELLED- Summer Reception CI 2021
2021-07-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Arbor Restaurant Within The Global Treehouse, 2F & 3F, 1-2-3 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0061, Japan
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Life is not just about knowing people, it’s about knowing good people. There’s no beating the quality of the CEO Insights member network and our guests around a table (or many tables in this instance). As an executive, it can be lonely at the top and CI fills that void. The evening of 8 of July, we will break away from our regular luncheons and other meetings and have arranged a special event.
This evening of strictly food, drink, and networking gives members a chance to catch up with fellow CEOs after a long winter enjoying a beautiful Summer evening. We’ll even have some guest c-levels and other friends as well. We’re excited to try this venue in Tokyo as the general manager at Global Treehouse has arranged a special menu for the CEO Insights Summer Reception.
Please sign up early as space is limited to the first 25 CEOs to sign up.
CEO Insights – Summer Reception

When: Thursday, 8 July, 18:30pm – 20:30pm
Where: Arbor Restaurant Within The Global Treehouse
Cost: 10,000 yen / person (Including Tax)
RSVP: CI Support Team via fields below
* Due to booking with the catering, no cancellations or refunds after 5pm on 2 Jul (Friday).
**Priority is given to CI Network members. Even if you’re not a member of CEO Insights, please RSVP below. We’ll confirm your place via that form shortly thereafter.

2021 June (Thurs) - Death Or Taxes, Better Talk Taxes
2021-06-17 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
One of the beautiful things about living in the world is the great opportunity every person has to pay taxes. Even Jesus Christ, when publicly attacked by the religious bigots in a trick masterfully responded,
“give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them [Matthew 12:17]. He’s God but we’re not and taxation has been an important area to understand for a LONG time. So give to the government what they demand and life will be easier. The fact of the matter is we all have to pay. In the June CEO Insights network meeting we will again welcome a specialist in the field, Mr. Hans-Peter Musahi.

Although it will be an open discussion, which is part of what makes CI membership so valuable, we are planning to cover
⁃ Deductions of certain directors bonuses
⁃ The limited inheritance tax exemptions
⁃ Carried interest in Japan
⁃ The end of rental loss deductions
⁃ Valuation opportunities

We expect this to be a dynamic discussion as we’ve not covered the topic since April 2017. Don’t miss this opportunity to talk taxes… and we’ll save the death discussion for a later date. 😉

2021 June (Tues) -The State of e-Commerce In Japan - Featuring Netwise CEO
2021-06-08 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
Whatever negative impact COVID has had on industries such as retail and hospitality, e-commerce is as strong as ever and–in most cases–continues to grow and evolve, often at a dizzying pace. In this month’s CI lunch, Mr. Michael Rollins, Founder and President of Tokyo-based e-commerce agency Netwise, will present a macro-level survey of the current state of e-commerce in Japan, focusing on the most important trends, developments, and innovations in this fast-moving and highly lucrative space.
For anyone with an interest in selling–or selling more–online, this event is sure to arm you with actionable information and ideas. For more about Mr. Rollins company check out this. His bio is on the jobsite LinkedIn here.

May (Thurs) -Understanding The Background Effects Of Wuhan, Lockdowns, And Employee Mental Health
2021-05-20 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
Recently, the national government declared another ‘state of emergency’ in an effort to keep the coronavirus from spreading. All the lockdowns, work from home (WFH) and daily fear in the mass media seem to have greatly stressed the population. Being stuck at home with limited social interaction, mass layoffs by struggling businesses, and other concerns for the future have taken a toll on both the experienced and new workers.
In the May meeting, CEO Insights members will welcome the chairman of Tokyo English Life Line, or TELL. This NPO supports and counsels people who are struggling in such a challenging environment. Join us to discuss:

The current state of the local employee in Japan
What the government and NPOs are doing to respond to the high suicide rates of Japan
What companies can do to create a positive working environment for their teams

Join us for an insightful meeting that will help you better understand the needs of your team as well as the society that currently surrounds them.

May (Tues Grp)- An Inside View of Japan's New Digital Agency
2021-05-11 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
The novel coronavirus pandemic has exposed long-acknowledged shortfalls in some critical government administrative services and highlighted how much Japan must do to address its lag in digitization. To that end, the government in February approved bills to promote digitization and establish a Digital Agency in September. Coordinating, integrating and standardizing a unique digital framework to boost the quality of public services is a key policy of the Suga administration. In line with this, the government also wants to enhance Japan’s attractiveness as a digital infrastructure hub.
Together, we will explore current discussions in the Diet, the challenges ahead, and which industries are likely to be affected by the government’s digitization push. We will also examine how much Japan’s digital transformation has progressed, and whether the government can finally succeed in digitizing its complex administration as an example for the rest of society. Please join us for this timely discussion on digital policy in the post-corona era.
This CEO Insights lunch on April 15th will be moderated by seasoned government relations expert Timothy Langley. Mr. Langley is founder and CEO of Langley Esquire, Tokyo’s premier public affairs consulting firm dedicated to resolving issues in Japan’s unique regulatory environment.

An Inside View of Japan's New Digital Agency
2021-04-15 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan

2021 April G3 The Wavering Role of Legal Professionals - From the Eyes of a Japanese Legal Practitioner
2021-04-13 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
The services of a lawyer are retained for the purpose of defending and representing the best interests of the client.
However, recent developments in the legal industry suggest that just looking out such interests is insufficient in carrying out the duties of a lawyer.

What is a lawyer you retain looking out for other than your interests?
Other than the best interests of the client, what binds the decisions and undertakings of a lawyer?
In what situations will a lawyer be compelled to prioritize the ethical duties imposed upon such lawyer above the interest of the client?
Mr. Misaki will discuss these questions and also provide an overview of the legal industry in this event.
There are many areas we would like to cover so Mr. Misaki is willing to go with the flow.
However, with some 1,500 new lawyers coming online each year since the legal education reform almost a decade ago, the market is changing and employers have to stay ahead.

2021 March C28 - How Artificial Intelligence Changing Life and Business
2021-03-18 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
AI seems to be the battle cry of executives looking to cut staffing costs or increase revenues. You hear discussions in trade shows, boardrooms and offices around the world. The concept of Artificial Intelligence is a bit hazy for some. Both those professing to know it, as well as those who think they are using AI. In the March CI luncheon, we look to dispel some of the fog. Stefan Sacre, CEO of Carl Zeiss Japan, investor, and technologist will be giving an introduction starting with explaining some terms such as AI, machine learning, deep learning. Mr. Sacre will also take us into the recent progress, applications (some them mind-blowing!). He will also reveal, who are the real “players” in the industry and what you can expect and what not to expect.
Join us for a fantastic lunch that feeds the mind and body with nothing artificial!

The Champion- Keeping It All Together, When Other CEOs Fail
2021-03-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club- Roppongi Hills Club- Italian Restaurant- La Cucina, 51 fl. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151
When the earthquake, tsunamis, and nuclear meltdowns of 2011 hit Japan the leadership skills of the CEO were evident. With the virus fears of 2020, everyone had many chances to make decisions. Some we may be happy with, others we likely want to change.
Great leadership leads while sometimes in weakness, some leadership buckled and bailed. Life is waves of ups and downs, but it is possible to have more high points than disasters. Being prepared for natural disasters, regulatory changes, human resource challenges, cyber attacks, corporate espionage and nearly anything that can come at us is mostly about being ready. Readiness comes because we’ve given thought to an area of our business. As the CEO, we are expected to lead our companies into success.
In the March CEO Insights meeting, bosses will have the chance to hear about issues that other businesses have had and how the CEO was able to keep it together. We’ll be covering HR, technology, logistic, legal, and other challenges in this interactive exchange.
