We are currently supporting a search for a Managing Director, Japan. This is a high-impact, strategic leadership appointment for an international leader in B2B professional services and risk management. The successful candidate will spearhead the Japan market, driving a core mission of commercial transformation and sustainable growth within one of the world's most sophisticated regulatory landscapes.

About the Role

As the Managing Director, you will hold full P&L accountability for the Japan business, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, APAC. This role is designed for a visionary leader capable of scaling organizational capability while modernizing service offerings. Your primary objective is to transform the Japan market from a traditional operational base into a high-growth, innovation-led business unit. You will lead a high-performing leadership team, fostering a culture of high trust and inclusion while acting as the primary senior representative to the Japanese government, industry bodies, and enterprise-level clients.

Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership & Growth Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of the Japan strategic roadmap to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
• Drive commercial excellence across the organization, overseeing pipeline discipline, pricing strategies, and market-entry initiatives for new service lines.
• Partner with global business lines to ensure local execution is aligned with international standards while remaining hyper-relevant to the Japanese market.

Organizational Scaling & Culture

• Transform the organizational culture by embedding a high-trust, inclusive environment and addressing behaviors to improve employee engagement and retention.
• Coach and develop the senior leadership bench, ensuring robust succession planning and talent pipelines as the business scales.
• Model respectful and ethical leadership, ensuring the organization reflects the highest standards of integrity.

Strategic Partnerships & Key Account Management

• Protect and expand relationships with strategically important enterprise clients, acting as the executive-level point of contact.
• Build an ecosystem of commercial and delivery partners, strengthening alliances with government and industry bodies to reinforce market reputation.
• Influence the wider business community to develop partner-enabled routes to market.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Ensure all operations comply with complex accreditation requirements and international regulatory frameworks.
• Manage delivery risks and impartiality standards with a strong mindset for quality and compliance.
• Oversee local labor relations and corporate governance in alignment with Japanese labor law and global group policies.

Requirements

• 10+ years of senior commercial leadership experience in a B2B environment (Professional Services, Assurance, or Risk Management preferred).
• Full P&L ownership at a country or large business-unit level within an international matrix organization.
• Language: Native-level fluency in Japanese and professional-level English(capable of influencing global stakeholders).
• Industry Background: Proven track record in B2B sectors; familiarity with regulated or accredited operations is a significant advantage.
• Soft Skills: An entrepreneurial "builder" mentality combined with high emotional intelligence and the ability to drive culture change.

Why Apply?

• Full P&L Ownership: Take the helm of a major market with the autonomy to shape strategy and drive bottom-line impact.
• Global Visibility: Direct reporting line to APAC leadership and frequent interaction with the Global Executive Board.
• Market Disruption: Lead the modernization of core offerings in a stable, profitable industry ripe for digital and service innovation.
• Legacy Building: Opportunity to transform organizational culture and build a high-performance leadership bench from the ground up.
• Stability & Growth: Join a globally recognized organization known for its stability, ethics, and commitment to diversity.