Advising Companies for Business Growth and Transformation
- Founder and CEO, DJMAC GK; Independent Member of the Board, KADOKAWA Corporation and member of remuneration committee; advising established and emerging Japanese and multinationals, board member or advisor of several non-profit organizations.
- Team builder, experienced business leader in growth strategy and transformation with top tech and media brands for 25 years.
- Authority on cross-cultural communication, business, leadership and management; a native Canadian with 5 years in Europe and nearly 30 years in Japan.
- Advocate for good governance, diversity, equity, and inclusion in all forms—gender, ethic, sexual orientation and identification, and physical and mental health and fitness.
Business Growth and Transformation
- Forged high-performing teams: Launched i-mode services with diverse, temporary teams, leveraging strengths & communication beyond language.
- Led large-scale transformations: Adapted Disney to digital content, designed the right org structure for the merged gaming/internet business. Navigated large scale transformations and mergers and acquisitions at Warner Bros. Discovery.
- Drove aggressive digital shift: Grew Discovery Japan’s viewership 5x through a challenging cultural transformation.
- Ignited creator economy growth: Scaled YouTube’s Japan team from 5 to 50 in 5 years, fostering a strong team vision and culture, and setting the foundation for a US$4B ecosystem.
Global Mindset for Business Success
- Multicultural upbringing: A Canadian who grew up in West Germany, fostering cross-cultural communication skills.
- Military intelligence and academic training: honed analytical and diplomatic abilities (History & Politics degree, Royal Military College of Canada).
- Japan immersion: He launched his career in Japan after living and teaching there (JET program), igniting a passion that fuels his business success.
- Advanced education: Obtained a Master of Science in East Asian Business (Sheffield) & Leading Across Cultures certification (INSEAD) to solidify expertise.
Championing Business Ethics, Diversity and Social Programs
- Strong Governance: “Truth, Duty, Valor” guide his leadership (alma mater motto), evident in independent director roles. Governance training (Wharton, BDTI)
- Diversity Champion: Implemented inclusion programs (Discovery Japan) & holds Diversity Certificate (Cornell). Strong advocate for mental health in the workplace.
- Social Programs: Led support of charitable support including Discovery Japan’s sponsorship of Save the Children Japan.
Career Summary
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
DJMAC GK, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan
- Representative Officer, (Feb 2023 – )
KADOKAWA Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
- Outside Director, Member of the Board, Compensation Committee (Jun 2023 – )
Tech Doctor, Inc, Tokyo, Japan
- Global Corporate Advisor (Sep 2023 – )
Warner Bros Discovery (Discovery, Inc), Tokyo, Japan
- General Manager, Japan (Mar 2018 -Dec 2022)
- President and Representative Officer, Discovery Japan, GK (Apr 2020 – Dec 2022)
- Vice President and Head of Networks Japan, Warner Bros. Discovery (Jun 2022 – Dec 2022)
- President and Representative Director, Discovery Japan, KK (Nov 2018 – Oct 2021, board member Oct 2021 – Nov 2022)
YouTube Asia Pacific, Google, LLC, Tokyo, Japan
- Head of YouTube Spaces, Asia Pacific, Google, LLC, Tokyo, Japan (Jul 2014 – Feb 2018)
- Interim lead for YouTube Japan, Google, LLC, Tokyo, Japan (Nov 2016 – Aug 2017)
- Head of YouTube Content Operations, Asia Pacific, Google, Inc, Tokyo, Japan (Feb 2009 – Jun 2014)
Director, Disney Internet Group Asia Pacific, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo, Japan (Nov 2004 – Jan 2009)
i-mode Business Department, NTT DoCoMo, Inc, Tokyo, Japan (Sep 1999 – Oct 2004)
- Manager, Business and Partner Development, i-mode Global Strategy (Dec 2002 – Oct 2004)
- Executive Advisor, i-mode Strategy, seconded to KPN Mobile, Den Haag, the Netherlands; Bouygues Telecom, Paris, France (Jan 2002 – Nov 2002)
- Project Coordinator, Content and Strategic Alliances (Sep 1999 – Dec 2001)
Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, Fukaura Town Office, Fukaura, Aomori, Japan (Jul 1995 – Jul 1998)
Military Intelligence Officer, 1st Canadian Division Intelligence Company, 1st Canadian Division, Kingston, Canada (May 1995 – Jul 1995)
OTHER APPOINTMENTS
Director, World Design Weeks, (Jul 2023 – )
Director, NPO Design Association, Tokyo, Japan – (Apr 2022 – )
Advisor, Advocacy and Promotion Committee, Royal Military Colleges Alumni Association, Canada (Nov 2022 – )
EDUCATION
Master of Science (with Distinction) – East Asian Business Studies – University of Sheffield, England – 1999
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – History and Politics – Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Canada – 1995
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
Solution Focused Coaching – Academy of Solution-Focused Coaching, Apr 2023. International Coaching Federation accredited course (ACC and PCC classroom training complete), ACC accreditation pending.
Leading across Borders and Cultures – INSEAD Executive Education, Apr 2022.
Corporate Governance: Maximize Performance in the Boardroom – Wharton Online Executive Education, Mar 2022.
Diversity and Inclusion Certification – eCornell Online Executive Education, Jan 2022.
Japan Director’s Boot Camp – Board of Directors Training Institute of Japan, Jun 2023 (refresher), Jun 2019.
MILITARY TRAINING
Military Intelligence Officer Training (Phase 1), Aug 1994.
Speaker, Guest Lecturer, Press Engagements
Top rated public speaker and presenter at industry events and conferences. Recent Undergraduate guest lectures at both Keio SFC and Chuo universities in Japan.
Media trained with frequent press engagement in both English and Japanese, print and video.
Publications
Pending publication: Solution Focused Practice and OSKAAR Coaching in Japanese Business Management: An Exploration Through the Lens of Culture in Solution Focused Coaching in Asia: History, Key Concepts, Development and Applications edited by Debbie Hogan, Jane Tuomola and Sukanya Wignaraja (2024).
Exporting the i-mode Concept: Can i-mode be exported to other markets and succeed? Business Briefing: Wireless Technology 2003, World Markets Research Centre. (2003)
Wireless Internet for the Masses, (2002/2003) Mobile Communications International, Issue 77 (2002/2003)
NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode: Developing Win-Win Relationships for Mobile Commerce, in Mennecke and Strader (eds.). Mobile Commerce: Technology, Theory and Applications. Idea Group (2002).