Tokyo rising: Meet Akio Okamura, Managing Director of Star Japan

Get to know Akio Okamura . Learn about his passion for motorsports and how it drives his ambition to help Japanese companies adapt and stand out in the market:?

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m Tokyo-born, raised in New York City and Spain before starting my career in Japan. I have always loved cars and motorcycles, so naturally, when I graduated from university, I went to work at Nissan as an R&D Engineer.?

I loved it; part of my job was even spending time on the test track. However, while I enjoyed what I did, I always found myself interested in the business side of things. At the time, the Japanese automotive industry was at its peak, but I noticed that growth seemed to stagnate.?

I wanted to understand why that was and see if I could use my insights to help companies set a new course for themselves and prosper. So I flew halfway around the world and got an MBA at MIT.?

Once I graduated, I worked for A.T. Kearney and Roland Berger before being presented with an incredible leadership opportunity to establish and grow Ricardo’s presence in Japan. It was quite a thrill. I helped quadruple the business and ended up staying for 14 years!?

But we all know the industry has started to shift towards EVs and digitalization. So I joined Accenture as Managing Director, where I’d been for the past two years until Star found me.?

What brought you to Star??

Again and again, I’ve seen OEMs needing a rapid shift to digitalization to strengthen customer experiences inside and out of the cockpit.?

As a company, that is what Star prides itself on, so I jumped at the opportunity to lead Star’s growth here.?

Japan is a complex market and I especially like working with foreign companies here. This role allows me to utilize my experience and language skills.

I’m beyond excited to contribute to Star and make our Crew proud—this will make me happy.?

One thing that especially resonated with me is something our Founder and Chairman Juha Christensen shared with me. One of his motivations for starting?

Star was to create a better life for the younger generation through better technology. I have two young sons, and this hit home.?

What are some challenges in the Japanese market??

Thirty years ago, Japan was at the top of automotive technology. Now, we’re being outpaced by global challengers. We’re not doing enough to embrace digitization, understand generational changes and adapt to new business models.?

We need to leverage radical ideas if we want to get back to where we were.?

While mindsets are starting to shift, and leaders recognize this, many companies don’t have the agility or know where to start this journey. That’s where I see a big opportunity for Star to help Japanese OEMs leapfrog and become world leaders again.?

What does your work day look like??

There’s no typical day. Every day presents something unique.?

I’m most excited when I visit clients and discuss our values and what we can achieve together.?

Ultimately, my main driver is efficiency. I always think, “Is this the best use of my company assets, my team members and my own time to contribute for the clients?”?

What are some of your top hobbies and interests??

I love cars and motorcycles. I raced circuits for over ten years, but after a couple of crashes, I’ve put that on pause.?

But that doesn’t mean I’ve slowed down. I’ve recently started practicing Enduro (off-road) motorcycling and have just completed my first race. In the future, my dream is to motorcycle across all of Japan and really see the countryside.?

I’m also a runner and enjoy using business trips as an opportunity to explore new cities—including an amazing visit I just had to Star Wroclaw and Star Munich.?

How would you describe your leadership style? What should candidates interested in joining your team know??

My job is to craft an environment where my people feel valued and can be at their best. Rules, processes, pay structure and everything we do must be aligned to support this.?

I’m people-first and hands-off. If we’re working together, I want you to have room for creativity. I’m here to provide support when needed.?

I’d like candidates to know that they aren’t just employees but key parts of our story when they join my team. I’m especially excited to work with the younger generation. If you have passion and motivation, we can do amazing things together for our company and Japan.

What’s the most thrilling thing you’ve done??

Hard to say. I’ve driven at 260 kph (161 mph) a few times, enough to thrill anyone. I also once raced at the Formula One Suzuka Circuit. That was absolutely incredible but immensely difficult. One mistake, and you hit the wall!?

Do you have any priorities for your first months? ?

I am from the Automotive sector, so naturally, I will start there, but I also have a new challenge to grow our other industries.?

I am excited to take this on. Life is learning new things, and I truly enjoy this journey. I will need a lot of help from our people in these spaces and can’t wait to work together.

What’s one essential but not obvious thing you’d like people to know about you??

Despite all my hobbies and how outgoing I am, I’m a family person at heart. We’re always skiing in the winter, swimming in the summer and valuing our time together. We’ve just picked up hiking and climbing, and there’s no better time to start than fall.

Akio’s passion, drive and experience are paving the way for exciting new clients, projects and solutions in Japan and worldwide.?

If you’re interested in joining Akio’s team or discussing business challenges and goals, connect with Akio Okamura via LinkedIn.