Our Team
Yan Sen is the founder and managing director of Makana Partners, based in Japan. He partners with the research team to complete senior searches across industries and functions with a focus on HR. Prior to founding Makana Partners, Yan Sen worked for Hays, one of the world’s largest recruiting firms, and ChapmanCG, where he specialized in senior HR search.
Yan Sen was born in Shanghai, raised in Toronto, and has been living in Tokyo for the past 17 years. He graduated from McMaster University in Canada with a BSc major in psychology and a minor in business. He is extremely passionate about people, culture, and innovation. In addition to English, he speaks fluent Japanese and conversational Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese.
マカナパートナーズの創設者であり、代表取締役のルー・ヤンセンは日本を拠点とし、リサーチチームと提携して全業界のシニア人事サーチを手掛けています。同社を設立する前は、日本で最大規模の外資系人材紹介企業ヘイズ・スペシャリスト・リクルートメント・ジャパンに勤め、その後シニア人事サーチを専門とするChapmanCGに勤めました。
ヤンセンは上海で生まれ、トロントで育ち、日本に12年在住しています。カナダのマクマスター大学で心理学を専攻し、ビジネスを副専攻、理学士号を取得しました。ヤンセンは人々、文化、革新に非常に興味があり、英語に加え、流暢な日本語と日常会話レベルのマンダリン、広東語、上海語を話します。
Yan Sen is very customer focused and at the same time moderate the interest of the candidates and clients very well. He proactively stays in touch and provides updates on the status of the search and how the finalist is progressing in regards to the decision making process.
Markus Ruh – HR Director, adidas Japan
BSI are extremely satisfied with the candidate we have hired via Makana Partners. We felt Yan Sen really took the time to understand our business; our future vision, where the role fits into our strategy and the importance of the role. It’s very important to BSI we work with suppliers who understand the journey we are embarking on. Yan Sen’s knowledge of the APAC market is second to none, being a British (International) company it was crucial we hired a candidate with the right balance of working strategically and culturally – this was evidently clear in the candidates which were submitted. We were provided with a selection of candidates in a tough competitive market, each candidate came prepared to the interview – which is a representation of Makana Partners. We look forward to continually partnering with Makana Partners in all our future recruitment needs in the APAC region.
Sherie Dhindsa-Karwal – Senior TA Partner, BSI
I really appreciated the advice on how to improve my CV quality, the frequent contact and personalized feedback/advice during the interview process. Thank you so much for all your support to make my first job change more successful! Overall, I’m very satisfied with the opportunity introduced.
Senior HR Business Partner, Fortune 500 Tech Company
I’ve known Yan Sen for many years and from my experience he doesn’t push people to make decisions but rather offer different perspectives so they can make the right decision. He’s very supportive, responsive, and open minded (open to feedback). Yan Sen is one of the best agents who I want to have a long-term relationship with.
Kanako Machidori – Head of HR, MathWorks
2021 | Head of HR & GA | Healthcare | Exclusive |
2021 | Head of HR | Healthcare | Contingent |
2021 | Senior HRBP Manager | IT | Contingent |
2021 | Senior HRBP | Healthcare | Contingent |
2021 | Head of HR | IT | Retained |
2021 | C&B Manager | Healthcare | Contingent |
2020 | TA Manager | Consumer | Contingent |
2020 | Senior HRBP | IT | Contingent |
2020 | Head of HR & GA | Healthcare | Retained |
2020 | HRBP | Healthcare | Contingent |
*150+ total HR introductions across healthcare, manufacturing, IT, consumer, and service industries
Rie is the Vice President of operations, leading the back office and research functions, at Makana Partners.
Prior to joining, Rie worked at two global recruiting firms as well as at Sony as an executive assistant. She majored in English literature and minored in international business, while studying in Seattle.
マカナパートナーズの副代表として、運営、バックオフィス、リサーチ部門を取りまとめています。以前はソニーで秘書として働き、また外資系人材紹介企業2社に勤めていました。
フェリス女学院大学で英文学を専攻し、卒業後にアメリカのシアトルへ留学して国際経済を学びました。
Kazuhiko (Kaz) Mori is a senior director at Makana Partners based in Japan. Having more than 12 years of executive search experience, Kaz is able to offer a broad range of innovative talent acquisition solutions catered to his clients’ needs. His practice area includes country manager, human resources, financial services, operations and technology and management consulting.
Before joining executive search, Kaz worked for Salomon Brothers (which later became Citigroup Global Markets) for 20 years, including 6 years in operations & technology and 14 years as the head of HR. He is an expert in strategic business initiatives, post M&A business integration, executive coaching, change management, succession planning, as well as, all areas of HR, including talent acquisition, compensation & benefits, employee relations, learning & development, global mobility, HRIS and payroll. Prior to joining Salomon Brothers, he worked for KPMG in New York as a senior consultant within their information technology consulting practice. He started his career at Fujitsu as a systems engineer.
Kaz has a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Asia Financial Controller | IT Service |
Head of Asia FP&A | IT Service |
Head of HR Japan | IT Service |
Group CIO | Mobile Technology |
Chief Product Officer | Mobile Technology |
Head of FP&A Japan | Mobile Technology |
Country Director of Sales Japan | FinTech |
Strategic Account Manager | FinTech |
Senior Sales Manager | FinTech |
Japan Country Manager | Shipping & Logistics |
CFO | Shipping & Logistics |
Head of Operations | Shipping & Logistics |
Business Manager for CEO | Insurance |
External Directors x 2 | Insurance |
Chief Marketing & Transformation Officer | Insurance |
CIO Japan | Insurance |
CTO Japan | Insurance |
Head of Project Management Office | Insurance |
Head of IT & Digital (CIO) Japan | Pharmaceutical |
Head of HR | Manufacturing |
Head of HR & GA | Luxury Retail |
CFO | Medical Technology |
Michio ‘Mike’ Nagata is a senior director at Makana Partners based in Japan. He has 30 years of business consulting and 20 years of executive search experience. Mike’s practice area focuses on senior level search within automotive, chemical, life sciences and other manufacturing and healthcare related industries.
Before joining executive search, Mike worked as a business consultant handling several international projects in the Middle East and Asia, and supported U.S. firms entering the Japanese market.
Prior to being a business consultant, he worked for a personal computer company as the head of international operations for developing and operating its global network. Mike started his career in Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., where he made his mark in marketing and new business development over the course of 15 years.
Mike studied at the University of Technology in Monterrey, NL, Mexico as a member of the government student exchange program between Japan and Mexico. He has a Bachelor of Economics from Keio University (Tokyo, Japan).
永田 道雄 (ながた みちお) はマカナパートナーズのシニアディレクターとして日本を拠点にサーチを手掛けています。30年にわたるビジネスコンサルティングの経験を有し、エグゼクティブサーチにおいては自動車、化学、ライフサイエンス、製造業やヘルスケア関連業界など多岐にわたってシニアレベルのサーチを20年間手掛けています。
エグゼクティブサーチの職に就く前は、ビジネスコンサルタントとして中東やアジアで多数の国際的なプロジェクトを手掛け、日本市場に参入する米国企業をサポートしていました。
ビジネスコンサルタントになる前は、PC企業で国際事業責任者として、グローバルネットワークの開発と運用を担当していました。それ以前は三菱油化株式会社(現・三菱ケミカル株式会社)でキャリアをスタートし、15年間にわたってマーケティングと新規事業開発で実績を上げてきました。
慶應義塾大学で経済学の学士号を取得し、日本とメキシコの政府学生交流プログラムの一員として、モンテレイ工科大学に留学経験があります。
Advisor | Korean Chemical Company, Japan |
Director, Project Management | Global Generic Pharma Company |
Technical Sales Manager (Automotive) | Global Performance Chemical Company |
Director Government Affairs | Global Bio Pharma company |
VP Sales for Electronics, Japan | Global Automotive Company |
Chief Operating Officer | Industrial Products Manufacturer, Japan |
Confidential | Global Pump Manufacturer |
General Manager, Japan | Global Machinery Company |
COO | Global Testing, Analysis Company |
HR Director Japan | Global Automotive Company |
General Manager Japan | Global Steam Engineering Company |
Finance Director Japan | Global Testing, Analysis Company |
Head of Technology Business | Display Manufacturer, Japan |
Manager, General Accounting | Global Testing, Analysis Company |
HR Director | Global Bio Pharma company |
Assistant to President | Industrial Products Manufacturer, Japan |
New Business Development | Display Manufacturer, Japan |
HR Director | Global Testing, Analysis Company |
Business Development & Licensing | Global Mega Pharmaceutical Company |
Confidential Position | US Sports Goods Company |
President Japan & Asia | Global Automotive Manufacturer |
Global Account Manager | Global Paint Manufacturer |
Key Account Manager | Industrial Parts Manufacturer, French |
Director Pharma Technical Operations | Global Mega Pharmaceutical Company |
Ella Choi, a seasoned Senior Director at Makana Partners, specializes in executive-level technology recruitment, focusing on roles such as VPoE, CTO, head data scientist, and head of product management.
With a rich background in building technology teams from inception, Ella brings extensive expertise to her role. Prior to joining Makana Partners, she spent seven years at a boutique consulting firm headquarteredin Singapore, where she led the Japan technology team. Her career includes notable achievements, such as earning recognition as the top biller from Asia during her tenure at Robert Half for three consecutive years. She began her journey at Hays, where she garnered the award for best associate consultant.
Originally from South Korea, Ella pursued her education at Sookmyung Women’s University, earning a BA in political science. Following her graduation, she relocated to Japan, where she has resided for nearly two decades. Ella is fluent in English, Korean, and Japanese, and is passionate about delivering exceptional results for her clients.
マカナパートナーズのシニア・ディレクターであるチョイ・
CTO | Logistics |
Head of Data Scientist | Start-up |
CTO | Fintech |
Director of Technology | Consulting |
CTO | EC Start-up |
Senior Manager | Consulting |
VPoE | Logistics |
Head of Designer Team | Fintech |
DX Manager | Consulting |
Head of Engineering Team | SaaS Advertising |
Jayson is a Consultant at Makana Partners, based in Japan. With a wealth of experience exceeding a decade, he specializes in sourcing, recruitment, and talent acquisition, consistently delivering exceptional results for clients spanning the APAC region. Jayson‘s expertise extends across technical (both functional and non-functional), human resources, and business operations, covering middle to senior-level opportunities.
A graduate of De La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Jayson started his recruitment journey as an intern in an HR consulting firm. His outstanding performance led to a full-time role post-graduation. Prior to relocating to Japan, he spent a solid 9 years with a global RPO company that helps businesses with their hiring needs. During this time, he served important clients like Bank of America, Marsh, Mercer, and Origin Energy.
What gets Jayson excited? Partnering with professionals as a trusted advisor, helping them find the best job opportunities. He’s on a mission to be a part of people’s success stories.
ジェイソンは日本を拠点とするマカナ・
ジェイソンはデ・ラ・サール大学で心理学の学士号を取得し、
ジェイソンをワクワクさせるのは何でしょうか?