CEO Insights Executive Group

May (Tues Grp)- An Inside View of Japan's New Digital Agency
2021-05-11 12:30 - 14:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | 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.

2021 February- From The Eyes Of A Native- Japan Legal Precedents That Influence Your Business
2021-02-18 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 influence of government and politicians around the world demonstrate the importance understanding the legal systems of our land. Legally speaking, Japan is a lot more stable than other nations of late, however that doesn’t make the nation perfect. The nation has some quirks of its own. A wise business leader will understand the legal implications of any business before they embark on a new project. CEO Insights is made up of leading Japan executives as well as c-levels from around the world. In the February CEO Insights luncheon, we welcome Mr. Takuo Misaki. He will be sharing his experience on

The Japanese Legal System: How attorneys are educated, tested and trained and the evolving legal market
Examples of “rogue” members of the Legal Community
Employment and how COVID can change employer/employee relations

There are many areas we would like to cover so Mr. Misaki is willing to go with the flow. However, with some 2,000 to 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 of the curve.
More on Takuo Misaki
Mr. Misaki was admited to the Tokyo Bar Association in 2011. He is a graduate of Sophia University and the law school at Keio University. He speaks native Japanese and English. His areas of practice: Family matters, civil law, criminal cases, labour/employment issues, litigation, corporate law, commercial law, international transactions, legal matters regarding schools (including international schools). He practiced law in a larger firm and has recently founded his own firm, Law Offices of Fujita and Misaki. He also teaches at Temple University in Japan.

2021 February - The Future of NASA And Space Exploration Under the Biden Administration
2021-02-09 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
With the ending of the Apollo program and the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, many may have been concerned about next steps for NASA and the exploration of outer space. However, we have watched how private companies have thrived and been able to discover new and innovative opportunities in space, while NASA has remained at the forefront of enabling this flourishing industry. Now with the Biden administration in the cockpit, what is the future for space? During the February CEO Insights luncheon, we will welcome special guest Mr. Garvey McIntosh, NASA Attaché for Asia based at the U.S. Embassy Tokyo.
Garvey will be sharing his thoughts on what NASA has learned from the past, how it is conducting it current missions, and its plans for the future. He will address the importance of international cooperation with Japan and other nations around the world. In addition, with last year’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, he will discuss what the future holds for the exploration of the solar system and beyond.
Come join us for a great chance to see the intersect between science and business. Quoting the famous astronaut in the animation Toy Story, “To infinity and beyond!
CI Members- RSVP Below to secure your seat at the event
More about Garvey
Garvey McIntosh is currently the NASA Asia Representative based at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In this capacity he is responsible for the coordination of NASA programs and interests in Japan and other countries in the Asia Pacific Region. He also works with regional aerospace officials on key programs and serves as point of contact for NASA related meetings and travel. Since joining NASA in the Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) in 2003, Garvey has accumulated a broad range of experience. While in OIIR, he has negotiated and completed agreements with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA’s other international partners on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, high-energy physics and astronomy.

2021 January (Thurs) The Past, Present, and Future of NASA And Its Partnerships with Commercial and International Partners
2021-01-14 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
With the ending of the Apollo program and the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, many may have been concerned about next steps for NASA and the exploration of outer space. However, we have watched how private companies have thrived and been able to discover new and innovative opportunities in space, while NASA has remained at the forefront of enabling this flourishing industry. During the January CEO Insights luncheon, we will welcome special guest Mr. Garvey McIntosh, NASA Attaché for Asia based at the U.S. Embassy Tokyo.
Garvey will be sharing his thoughts on what NASA has learned from the past, how it is conducting it current missions, and its plans for the future. He will address the importance of international cooperation with Japan and other nations around the world. In addition, with last year’s 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, he will discuss what the future holds for the exploration of the solar system and beyond.
Come join us for a great chance to see the intersect between science and business. Quoting the famous astronaut in the animation Toy Story, “To infinity and beyond!
CI Members- RSVP Below to secure your seat at the event
More about Garvey
Garvey McIntosh is currently the NASA Asia Representative based at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In this capacity he is responsible for the coordination of NASA programs and interests in Japan and other countries in the Asia Pacific Region. He also works with regional aerospace officials on key programs and serves as point of contact for NASA related meetings and travel. Since joining NASA in the Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) in 2003, Garvey has accumulated a broad range of experience. While in OIIR, he has negotiated and completed agreements with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA’s other international partners on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, high-energy physics and astronomy.

2021 January G3 Hot Topic- Successful Keys To Hiring And Developing Key Players & Programs
2021-01-12 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
The topic that frequently comes up around our CI Network board room tables is people. Besides money, people are probably the most challenging part of our businesses. People are who service our clients, people are the root of many management issues (our time), and in many cases people are the difference between failure or phenomenal business success. In this CI luncheon we will talk about this priceless resource.
Join us for a ‘hot topic’ meeting with no guest speakers, just in ‘all cards on the table’ interactions with peers in different industries. Our discussion is planned to cover

Filtering and onboarding new team mates for the long term
Performance and programs that can makes stronger players
The pitfalls and the success stories for developing and enhancing the team

Join us for this ‘hot topic’ issue discussion. Experience from fellow c-levels speaks louder than any consultant or program.

Executive Committee Breakfast- Planning 2020
2020-12-08 08:00 - 09:00 | The Tavern Lounge, 51F, Andaz Tokyo
Dear CEO Insights Members,
To say 2020 has been different would be an understatement. Despite the upheaval, by year’s end we will have managed to have had more events than 2019. For example,
• 20 Monthly Lunches For CI Network
• 15 weekly/monthly “Leading Like Champions” Vid Conferences
• Sayonara Summer Reception
• Numerous independent meetings stirred amongst our group and members
For 2021, we need your help with leadership. We’ve got to set the themes and topics of what the group should cover.
You are invited to the CI planning breakfast on 8 December @8AM. Enjoy breakfast and great leaders, as we will be discuss the following-
1) Topics and speakers for 2021
2) 2021 event schedule
3) Review the directions, goals, and membership for the group
Please join us for this important session and be a part of making CEO Insights most inspiring network of bosses for years to come. RSVP here.
*The event is limited to 8 CEOs so please sign up soon to confirm your participation. The venue will be emailed to your shortly after confirmation. The cost is just whatever you order for breakfast at the venue.
(Posted 9 Nov)

2020 December C28 Year End Wrap Up- Better Boss, Better Business
2020-12-03 12:30 - 14:00 | The Tavern Lounge, 51F, Andaz Tokyo
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.

2020 December G3 Year End Wrap Up- Better Boss, Better Business
2020-12-01 12:30 - 14:00 | The Tavern Lounge, 51F, Andaz Tokyo
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.

Understanding Company Life Cycles While Building Your Business
2020-11-12 12:30 - 14:00 | Roppongi Hills Club – Restaurants, 51F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6151, Japan
All companies go through various corporate life stages, maybe even including the fight for survival and the fight for revitalization when growth success has settled.
This spans from when resources are limited and the manager has to play the game as her/his current players can handle it, as opposed to replacing the team and playing as she/he would prefer to do, over the growth phase to where the original players can no longer keep up and must be supported or even replaced.
In the November CEO Insights Lunch, we are pleased to welcome our own Per Rasmussen, Managing Director of Millet Mountain Group Japan, a French famous brands for people who love the great outdoors. https://www.millet.jp/
Per will share his insights on corporate life stages in smaller organizations, insights built up over many years in Japan as Marketing Manager and Managing Director for; LEGO, Braun, T-fal and Millet. 4 very different European consumer goods companies with small to medium size subsidiaries in Japan.
We look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP below to secure your seat at the board table.

The Future Of Luxury Goods. Accelerated - A Talk with Chopard Japan's Boss
2020-11-10 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.

2020 October G3- How Artificial Intelligence Changing Life and Business
2020-10-13 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
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 Oct 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!

2020 Sayonara Summer Reception (SSR)
2020-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Arbor Restauran, Aoyama Building 2F 1-2-3 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0061, Japan
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. As we close out and say “sayonara” to summer 2020, we want to give an extra opportunity for our CI groups to get to know each other. The evening of 8 October, 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 relaxing summer break enjoying a beautiful Fall evening. We’ll even have some guest c-levels and other friends as well. We’re excited to try this new venue in Tokyo as the general manager at Global Treehouse has arranged a special menu for the CEO Insights SS Reception.
Please sign up early as space is limited to the first 25 CEOs to sign up.
CEO Insights – Sayonara Summer Reception

When: Thursday, 8 October, 1830pm – 2030pm
Where: Arbor Restaurant Within The Global Treehouse
Cost: 11,400 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 Oct (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.

Oct C28- Doing Digital- How To Get An Effective Digital Marketing Strategy
2020-10-08 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
So, Japan is going digital. That prompts us all to think of how we can do “digital” better. When you say digital or digital marketing, some think of buying keywords on a search engine or marketing site, others think of social media campaigns, yet others think of replacing the street signs and other physical promotions. What exactly is digital marketing for your business?

In the October CEO Insights luncheon, will welcome public relations veteran Ross Rowbury. He is a member of our CEO Insights (Tuesday) group and well-rooted in Japan with extensive experience in Asia working with many famous brands, organizations, and even governments. Ross Rowbury will talk about some of the key questions around digital approaches to communications and marketing from his observations during his time at Edelman and seek to provide a couple of pointers and answers to how we can do it better.

We look forward to seeing our CEO Member network there!

Sept C28 – Why The CEO Must Understand Cybersecurity
2020-09-10 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 is a great place be both professionally and personally. The 22 million tourists who’ve visited Japan in 2018 illustrate that global interest. There is another side to having a high profile among nations and particularly in light of Japan’s challenged strategic environment in North Asia. Japan is increasingly viewed as an inviting cybercrime target. Cyber security is important as a matter of national security, but it is essential as well with respect to enterprises. Companies must better protect themselves from losses in IP (intellectual property), financial theft, and trade secrets. If the CEO doesn’t grasp the basics, how can the corporate team?
CEO Insights luncheon welcomes Mr. Lorne Fetzek, Area Vice President of Imperva Japan. Imperva is California-based next generation cyber security solutions provider that is expanding rapidly in Japan. Lorne will share his impressions and thoughts about:

Macrotrends in cyber security
Classic failures and why organizations get burned
Future threats and what bosses need to protect their businesses

There will be a short presentation to open the session followed by a discussion and Q&A.

The Outlook Of Travel, Tourism, & Entertainment In a Virus-Fearing World
2020-09-08 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
With rapid expansion of the economy and hotels being built and expanded around the world, no one would have guessed back in January 2020 what devastation the Wuhan Corona COVID-19 virus fears would have on the travel, entertainment, and the hospitality industries. What was growing and expanding rapidly was suddenly stopped in its tracks by daily infection counts, cancellation of major events, and nearly every company cutting all business travel.

The hotel business was hit particularly hard. No travel equates to no guests both internationally as well as domestically. Hotel operators and brands, both large and small, have had to take drastic measures to adjust to the sudden market changes.

In the September CI luncheon, we are happy to hear the inside story from IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan and CI network member Mr. Hans Heijligers. Hans will share his thoughts on travel, tourism, and entertainment businesses. What they have done, and where they are going.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please RSVP below.

A Transformational Case Study - AbbVie Pharmaceutical
2020-08-06 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
Sickness and health issues have been in front of us for months now. Working styles have changed over the course of the year as people have gone to WFH, staff rotations, and cutting of central business district office footprints. We’ve heard a lot from various industries through CEO Insights, but in the August meeting, we would like to introduce the pharma perspective to the group.
AbbVie is a leading global pharmaceutical company. Spun off from Abbott in 2013, AbbVie`s flagship product, Humira, is the largest selling pharmaceutical product ever. AbbVie Japan has nearly 1500 employees and is the largest affiliate outside of the US, with annual sales of over $1B.
James Feliciano has been the President of AbbVie Japan since 2016 and has led the organization through a 5-Year transformational project called “The 5-Year Focus”. Focusing on “Driving Growth” and “Employee Engagement”, the organization has risen from #27 in 2016 for the Great Place to Work Employee Engagement Survey to #11 in 2020. During that same time, the company has moved to a “Work Anytime, Anywhere” culture supported with a new, activity-based flexible office. Employee retention remains above 95%, while the company`s Japan industry revenue ranking has jumped from #35 in 2016 to #20 in 2019.
James will share his experience of leading the 5-Year Focus in Japan, insights that he has learned along the way around driving employee engagement and considerations for the post-Covid world.
We look forward to seeing you at the August CI luncheon. Be sure to RSVP below. Space is limited.

Boots on the Ground Investing- A Conversation With A Seasoned Investor
2020-08-04 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 our invaluable c-level group meetings, we talk a lot about human resources, building our brands, and many other topics. One area we need to cover more is regarding how to make money with our money. Maybe corporate, but more so personal investing. In the August CEO Insights meeting, we will talk about “Boot’s On The Ground Investing”.
Ray Klein has lived in Tokyo continuously for the past 30 years. He’s made a career of unusual investments and has direct experience in investment in private companies, private debt, asset based debt, US and Japanese real estate, bankruptcy investing, solar development, hotel management, etc.

Not every investment is suited for everyone. Every individual has his profile forrisk vs reward. The question is knowing all the risks. Many investors don’t properly account for the risks associated with high debt and low liquidity.

The money is made in the buy! The next two years should be interesting and filled with opportunity and trapdoors. Join us for the August CI lunch. We’ll talk about money, YOUR MONEY.

Bring questions and be ready for an interactive discussion.

July 29th - Leading Like Champions (LLC) Call via Zoom
2020-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Our weekly joint meeting has changed to a monthly check in. We will cover the virus threats as well as other leadership areas.
Looking forward to seeing you online!
Please check your email for the link to join the zoom video call. It is also on the meeting request itself.
This is a members only event. All cameras should be on.

2020 July G3 - How A Megacompany Navigates Market Change - Innovation @ Hitachi
2020-07-14 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
Japan is the world’s third largest economy for a reason. The local market is made up of strong SMEs (small to medium enterprise) that are underpinned by big name and great quality large conglomerate companies. Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Toyota, and many other names quickly come to mind. However, a huge contributor to Japan’s economy is the Hitachi Group. Hitachi is famous for making everything from refrigerators to heavy equipment for construction.

In the July CEO Insights, we welcome Hitachi’s newly appointed CFO, Mr. Yoshihiko Kawamura. Mr. Kawamura has played many roles at the group and will be sharing how Hitachi management is navigating economic change, working it’s international businesses, and innovating in technology to remain a leading Japan brand name.

July C28 - Blue Oceans- Experiential Marketing And eSports
2020-07-09 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
Experiential marketing is a marketing strategy component that engages current or potential customers through innovative, immersive experiences. These experiences don’t just sell products—they facilitate a customer’s identification with a brand as a whole. Customers become loyal because they feel connected to that brand’s product, messages, aesthetic, and values. Experiential marketing helps to make that connection. Plus, experiential marketing is one of the best marketing techniques for boosting your business’s visibility—by which we mean these events, pop-ups, activities, and installations are extremely social-media-worthy.
Also known as “engagement marketing,” “participation marketing,” “live marketing,” and “event marketing,” experiential marketing is often confused for “publicity stunts.” But experiential marketing strategy is exactly that—it’s a strategy, and it requires a good amount of research and planning to pull off well. James will talk about his experience with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Porsche, Ferrari, Tag Heuer and others and why every company should at least be considering how experiential marketing could work for them.
In the July CI Network luncheon, we welcome James Fiorillo, CEO of Excape Entertainment. James started Excape originally providing an interactive motorsport experience worldwide for major brands. His firm has expanded and has created brand promotion concepts involving most types of sports, extreme sports and extreme adventures on offer to major brands world-wide.

[CANCELLED] Executive Committee
2020-06-30 08:00 - 09:00 | Tokyo Amercian Club- Cafe Med, Japan

Leading Like Champions
2020-06-24 11:00 - 12:00 | 8×8
Welcome! On June 24th, we will be hosting an online 8×8 video conference to our CEO Insights members!

2020 June C28- Adding Fitness To The Health & Fitness Mantra- Harry Hill's New Adventure
2020-06-11 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
Harry Hill is no newbie to Japan. An American who has spent much of his life based in Nagoya, Japan Harry is known for Oak Lawn Marketing and his various business ventures. Oak Lawn was acquired by Docomo in 2017.

In the June CEO Insights, we’ll have Harry sharing about his new start up in Japan, UFC Gym. They have opened their first gym on the south end of Tokyo in Yoga. They are serious about fitness and have a new concept to bring that point home. The are incorporating fight into fitness to make staying healthy and fit more engaging. Harry will introduce his new venture the UFC Gym Japan. He will share why the USP that inspired him to launch the business. He will also share on the pivot they are making to respond to the current world situation.

Come join lunch with one of Japan’s well-known entrepreneurs. Harry will share on what he’s learned in his various business areas, what he sees going on in the Japan market, and his motivation to invest in another business model in Japan.

2020 June G3- Virus threats, The Latest on Labor Law, and What You Must Know About The New Civil Code
2020-06-09 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
It is again that time of the year when we meet our regular contributor JD Marx, partner at Baker McKenzie join us at CEO Insights. His sessions always wraps up with a healthy discussion, remembering the importance of the legal on our businesses, and a lot of great actionable information. He will come with a few subjects for discussion, including:
(i) labor law update with particular emphasis on the impact of hataraku kakushin (work revolution) of 2019
(ii) COVID19 with a discussion on contracts termination, lease renegotiation and force majeure,
(iii) the new civil code: very important changes took effect on April 1, and he will review a few of the most important (new rules on general terms and contract termination among others)
We look forward to seeing you there. Please note the group is limited to 12 members this month.

[CANCELLED] May C28 - Why The CEO Must Understand Cybersecurity
2020-05-14 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
Japan is a great place be both professionally and personally. The 22 million tourists who’ve visited Japan in 2018 illustrate that global interest. There is another side to having a high profile among nations and particularly in light of Japan’s challenged strategic environment in North Asia. Japan is increasingly viewed as an inviting cybercrime target. Cyber security is important as a matter of national security, but it is essential as well with respect to enterprises. Companies must better protect themselves from losses in IP (intellectual property), financial theft, and trade secrets. If the CEO doesn’t grasp the basics, how can the corporate team?
CEO Insights luncheon welcomes Mr. Lorne Fetzek, Area Vice President of Imperva Japan. Imperva is California-based next generation cyber security solutions provider that is expanding rapidly in Japan. Mr. Fetzek will be joined by fellow technology leader and host Spencer Wolfe of AINEO Networks for an interactive discussion covering areas such as:

Macrotrends in cyber security
Classic failures and why organizations get burned
Future threats and what bosses need to protect their businesses The format of the event will be interview style with Q&A encouraged.

[CANCELLED] May G3 - The Edelman Trust Barometer: Measuring Your Clients
2020-05-12 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 Edelman Trust Barometer, the world’s largest survey of trust in institutions conducted in 28 countries shows that only 40% of Japanese employees trust the company they work for. This is somewhat counter intuitive given the image of the self-sacrificing, all for the company image that is held about Japans salarymen. Ross will address this and other issues including what is behind the Trump phenomenon and rising populism in the world’s advanced economies.
April’s CEO Insights meeting will welcome Edelman’s Japan boss, Mr. Ross Rowbury. Ross has been living and working in Japan for 35 years. Originally working in finance, Ross moved to the public relations industry some twenty years ago. Over that period he has been advising executives from both Japanese and non-Japanese companies on communications strategy and implementation.
