Empowering content business in and by Japan:
- Navigating the content maze: I unravel the complexities of the Japanese and Asian markets. Gain insider insights on distribution channels, audience preferences, and cultural nuances to succeed in every corner.
- Forging alliances, not just contacts: I build meaningful relationships with Japanese industry powerhouses or creators, bridging gaps for business success.
- Accessing creative talent: I access a network of Japan’s most talented creators and producers. Collaborate on groundbreaking projects and unlock the full potential of intercultural content.
- Creating experiences, not just content: I blend the magic of storytelling with the power of technology to craft media that moves hearts and minds.
Your Partner
- Outside Board Member of KADOKAWA Corporation and board member of non-profit creative organizations Design Association and World Design Weeks.
- 25 years of executive and managerial roles in content development, distribution, and general management in Japan and Asia Pacific:
- Warner Bros. Discovery General Manager and President of Discovery Japan, later Vice President and Head of Networks Japan for the newly merged company.
- Google YouTube Early executive seeding the creator ecosystem in Asia and later architect and operator of production facilities.
- Disney As regional Director expanded the Internet business in Asia Pacific through mobile content and gaming.
- NTT DoCoMo: Content development for the hit i-mode service the first Internet mobile service to reach over 50 Million subscribers.
- A cultural bridge: Navigates the complexities of intercultural communications and collaboration to ensure seamless partnerships.
- Native Canadian with 30 years in Japan and six years in Europe. Fluent in English and Japanese.
Case Study 1
Media Business Development
Asia Pacific's Creator Boom: From Cat Videos to a $5 Billion Powerhouse
In 2009, YouTube was practically banned in Asia, and the biggest star was a cat with 50,000 fans. That’s the landscape David entered, facing an uphill battle to cultivate a creator ecosystem in a region dominated by TV, movie studio and music label giants.
Fast forward fifteen years, and the picture is radically different. Oxford Economics reports paint a staggering portrait: Asia Pacific’s “Creator Economy” now pumps over US$5 BILLION into the regional economy.
David’s journey reflects the meteoric rise of Asia’s creator economy. It’s a story of fostering talent within the YouTube team and creators, unlocking the immense potential of a region brimming with creativity:
- Stabilized online operations to support discussions and negotiations with studios, broadcasters and music companies
- Talent scouted the first “YouTubers” in Japan and, with his team, developed a support program for Japanese YouTubers
- Scaled the YouTube Partner Program (monetization program) across the region; expanded the creator support program
- Integrated the newly acquired “Next New Networks” (later the Next Lab)
- Designed and operated two physical production facilities in Tokyo and Mumbai to help creators “learn, connect, create.”
- expanded the “Spaces” program to “Pop-up Spaces” – engagements to reach creators in SE Asia, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and the other regions of India – temporary 3 to 5 days partnerships with local studios and production
- Reached thousands of creators per year through online programs and the “Spaces” program
Case Study 2
Content Production and Development
Forging Collaborations, Igniting Innovation
David’s career isn’t a linear path. It’s a testament to his ability to adapt, evolve, and disrupt the status quo. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, proving that traditional media and digital creativity can coexist and synergize to create extraordinary experiences. David’s impact goes beyond the screen. He understood that content thrives on engagement. He fostered collaborations, championed diversity, and built vibrant communities around the stories he helped create.
- Produced or oversaw multiple programs and productions for digital native creators in Japan, India, and elsewhere across the region in his work as Head of YouTube Spaces
- Connected big studios and production companies with digital native creators to uplevel the creators’ skills while expanding the audience for traditional media
- Well-exposed to trends in viewership and content preferences for both digital natives and more traditional theatrical and serial content (streaming and broadcast)
- Expanded the audience and community for Discovery Japan through digital media – exposing Japanese consumers to new content and brands – and growing that community 10x.
- Network of creators, producers and development executives.
Creator and Studio Collaboration Case Study - TOEI Studios Kyoto
Imagine bridging the gap between YouTube’s digital dynamism and the timeless grandeur of Toei Studios Kyoto, home of cinematic samurai epics like Kurosawa’s masterpieces. In 2015, YouTube Space Tokyo threw a spark between veteran jidaigeki masters and a new generation of digital storytellers.
This wasn’t just a cultural exchange; it was a creative explosion. YouTubers immersed themselves in the meticulous artistry of jidaigeki production, learning the secrets of swordsmanship, costume design, and set creation from the grandmasters themselves. Toei, in turn, tapped into the fresh energy and global reach of YouTube’s diverse creators.
The results were as varied as they were groundbreaking. Music videos pulsed with samurai swagger, short films reimagined historical narratives through modern lenses, and web dramas unfolded in the shadow of age-old streets. It was a collision of worlds, a symphony of tradition and innovation, all born from that singular meeting point in Kyoto.
The legacy of this program echoes far beyond its initial spark. It paved the way for a new era of storytelling, where digital storytelling tools enhance the timeless allure of jidaigeki, and fresh perspectives breathe new life into ancient heroes. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration, to the magic that happens when digital natives and cinematic veterans share their passions and push the boundaries of their crafts.
Case Study 3
Technology for Creativity and Distribution
Bridging the Mobile Magic: Disney-i Revolution
Imagine when mobile screens were miniature, monochrome canvases and could display only 4-frame GIF animations. In 2000, this was the landscape David faced when he helped launch Disney-i, a pioneering mobile internet service for NTT DoCoMo’s iconic i-mode platform.
This wasn’t a simple port of existing Disney content but a creative leap into the unknown. Working alongside the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and other partners, David and the NTT DoCoMo team had to ask – how do we spark Disney magic on these tiny, pixelated screens? Their answer was ingenuity. Instead of high-fidelity graphics, they focused on interactive storytelling, mini-games, and bite-sized character interactions.
The result? Explosive popularity. Disney-i shattered expectations, its servers buckling under the weight of millions of captivated users. This wasn’t just a cute gimmick; it was a glimpse into the future of mobile entertainment, where engagement took center stage over graphical fidelity.
The success of Disney-i resonated far beyond Japan. Disney launched similar services for other mobile carriers, eventually establishing their Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) under the Disney Mobile brand. And WDIG in Japan, nurtured by David’s contributions, became a key revenue generator for the entire group.
Innovation and magic can bloom even in the most restrictive environments. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most straightforward ideas, executed with creativity and heart, can leave the most significant impact.
So, the next time you tap your smartphone screen, remember the pixelated magic of Disney-i and the pioneering spirit that dared to bring Disney magic to the palm of your hand.
- Developing content for mobile, leveraging pre-existing default Internet standards, for i-mode, both at home in Japan and with overseas partners
- Overseeing distribution of brands and content across new technology platforms
- Imagining new experiences with those distribution platforms and how, when, and why users would engage – the “user scene.”
- Supporting the development of a new generation of creators who primarily produce for digital platforms anchored on YouTube.
- Leveraging YouTube to expand distribution for content unseen in Japan and awareness for Discovery and its multiple brands.
- As Head of YouTube Spaces, an early leader in new technology experimentation for content creation – 360-degree camera rigs, VR and AR content.