Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS ▢ Experienced a broad range of responsibilities (teaching position to Head of APAC) for a wide variety of company sizes (self-employed to 10,000+ employees) in different market segments (B2B / B2C) ▢ Great interpersonal / mediation skills that are cross cultural, and super quick to understand what is important to both sides and what needs to be done to get the best outcome ▢ Proven strategic thinker with hands-on management skills, and high energy entrepreneurial mindset ▢ Love to work for start-up / turnaround business requiring skill sets like team building, coaching, faster executions, and proactive mind-set ▢ Always implement ROI data-driven and/or, value/solution-selling methodology in securing deals ▢ Results-driven management style with excellent track record of building a high performance team ▢ Exceptional partner facing skills: winning trust, representing the company, and working at multiple levels within my own organization and partner’s organization ▢ Personal MOTTO: GSD, GO Ludicrous, Transparency, Accountability, Collaboration, and Have fun together ▢ English: TOEIC/945. Eiken/Grade 1
As the Managing Director, Japan and APAC at Classiq, I am fully accountable for the region’s GTM strategy and overall P&L performance. My role spans across building and scaling Classiq’s presence in key markets including Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, India, and Taiwan. This includes: ■ Defining and executing localized GTM strategies aligned with our global objectives ■ Hiring and leading high-performing commercial and technical teams in each country ■ Establishing strategic partnerships with enterprises, academia, and government agencies ■ Driving revenue growth, platform adoption, and ecosystem development throughout the region With a deep understanding of both the enterprise tech landscape and emerging quantum computing opportunities, my mission is to accelerate Classiq’s expansion and position in APAC as a global leader in quantum innovation.
Classiq Technologies (HQ: Tel Aviv, Israel) is a leading quantum computing platform company providing an advanced IDE, compiler, and operating system for quantum computing. Its end-to-end platform converts high-level functional models into optimized quantum circuits, supporting both cloud and hardware-based quantum systems. Classiq works across the quantum ecosystem—supporting developers, hardware vendors, and supercomputing providers. Akira Tanaka is the Representative of Classiq Technologies G.K., the Japanese subsidiary of Classiq Technologies. The Tokyo office opened in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, on November 1, 2023. As Classiq’s first hire in Japan, Akira leads the company’s business and operations in the region. His responsibilities include: ・ Representing Classiq in all commercial, marketing, and strategic engagements in Japan ・ Driving partnerships with Japan’s National Quantum Program and key industry players ・ Developing and executing the company’s market expansion strategy ・ Leading the team to achieve and exceed revenue targets ・ Aligning Japan’s GTM model with global strategy ・ Recruiting and nurturing a strong local team ・ Collaborating with global teams to maximize impact Akira is committed to advancing quantum computing adoption in Japan and positioning Classiq as a key player in the region. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SimilarWeb’s (HQs in Tel Aviv, Israel) digital intelligence solutions provide customers with insights to help them understand, track and grow their digital market share. As the 1st hire in Japan, my key responsibilities include: ▢ Reporting to CRO and represent SimilarWeb in all commercial engagements, marketing events, and meetings with key clients and business partners ▢ Lead the Japan business to over-achievement on defined revenue goals ▢ Recruit, grow, and develop SimilarWeb Japan Team ▢ Manage the entire Team Japan, including field marketing and HQ-based business operations. ▢ Build and execute the strategic vision and plan to expand SimilarWeb business in Japan ▢ Evaluate and analyze effectiveness of specific GTM models and programs in Japan and get (sh) it done in order to realize SimilarWeb business goals in the region ▢ Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders and partners ▢ Being in Ludicrous mode for further growth in Japan for the next stage
Knewton Japan K.K. is incorporated in Tokyo on Jan 8, 2016. In addition to APAC regional director role, Akira also serves as Managing Director of Knewton Japan K.K. (代表取締役社長) and is building the team serving for customers and prospects in Japan and APAC out of Tokyo. Closed three partnership relationship with Z-kai, Classi (part of Benesse) and Gakken, three major education players in Japan in a ludicrous mode.
1st hire in APAC Business Development team and responsible for Knewton's business expansion in the region. Knewton’s mission is to personalize learning for the world. Teachers, schools, and education companies around the globe use Knewton to power digital course materials that dynamically adapt to each student’s unique needs. Knewton provides students with tailored recommendations for exactly what to study, teachers with analytics to better support each student, and publishers with content insights to develop better products. Founded in 2008, Knewton has offices in New York City, London, São Paulo, and Tokyo.
In addition to the current responsibilities around Skype business in Japan, assuming responsibility for business development around broader ASG* portfolio such as Office365, OneDrive, and OneNote in Japan as well as Korea. (ASG - Applications & Services Group)
Have jurisdiction over all operational aspects of the business and work closely with our in-country partners to support Skype goals in the region. Including partnership management of the co-brand sites, local marketing/PR, business development, and market development activities. Responsible for driving Skype's Japan business. Will spend a significant amount of time embedded with our primary strategic partners in the region to support / drive the partner’s effective execution of the Skype business, finding synergies with the partner’s existing platform, and implementing tactical plans to grow the user base and revenues, both on desktop & mobile. Lead discussions and closed (a) co-marketing partnership with KDDI and (b) partnership agrmt with Familymart, Lawson, and 7/11 for the first Skype pre-paid cards (POSA) in Japan.
▢ New Biz Acquisition: Lead and won/closed several major deals with major publishers and media companies among other smaller deals ▢ New Sales Processes: Implementing value-selling methodology with my own developed ROI analyzer ▢ Team Building: Building a sales team to ramp up Doubleclick platforms business in Japan while integrating the DoubleClick Japan business to Google. ▢ Team Integration: Lead in Google's platform strategy in Japan while resolving the pending legal situation ▢ Acquisition Management: Sales lead in Japan working with cross-functional team (legal, HR, GTS, PR, etc.) on the DoubleClick integration until the deal was closed
▢ Lead in sales operation aspect of DoubleClick to Google transition. ▢ The liaison between Google and DoubleClick Japan KK and manage all day-to-day operations under the legal dispute
● Strategic Consulting for Google Japan: Helping Google Japan to enter display ads biz successfully in Japan including business plan, sales strategy development and transition to a next stage w/r/t DoubleClick business in Japan