Karl Hudson has been based in Tokyo since October 2019. He is responsible for leading the Area Team overseeing Marriott hotels and resorts in Japan & Guam, playing a key role in delivering results in this strategic market.

Karl has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality. He joined Marriott International in 1996, with his first role as Director of Food & Beverage at Renaissance Sydney Hotel (now Sydney Harbour Marriott). In 1999, he was appointed Director of Food & Beverage and then Director of Rooms at Shenyang Marriott, China.

His first General Manager role came in 2003 at Cebu City Marriott, followed by General Manager assignments at Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa, China and Renaissance Harbour View Hong Kong. In 2011, Karl was promoted to Multi-Property Vice President for Hong Kong, and in 2012 this role expanded to Market Vice President for South China and subsequently Japan in 2013.

In May 2014, he became Area Vice President of Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia and Japan. Based in Bangkok, he guided the area through a period of considerable growth, change and integration following the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016. He then served as Area Vice President for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar prior to relocating to his current role in Japan.

Has served for 22 years as President and Representative Director of Prada Japan and South East Asian markets and as Executive Board Member in many Prada Group operational and holding companies.

During his stay with the Group he managed several brands, of which Prada, Miu Miu, Church's, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang as well as in the cosmetic industry when serving as the CEO and Representative Director of Cosmetics and Eyewear International Distribution Japan.
Additionally, a book author and guest speaker and participant in seminars and other events on the luxury market and consumer behavior.

Previous to join Prada Group, he served as Board Member and CFO of Benetton Group Japan and Managing Director of Benetton Korea.

A 33 years Japan resident, he holds two honors from the Italian Republic, Knight and Officer.

Fujiko Amano is Director for Investment Collaboration at the Investment Facilitation Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan ("METI"). She handles policy-making for foreign direct investment promotion jointly with the "Invest Japan" Office of the Cabinet Office and undertakes deregulatory projects, serving as a contact point for foreign corporations and foreign entities in Japan. She brings a unique mixture of public and private sector experiences in trade and investment as well as public policy and regulatory fields.

Prior to joining METI, she has served as a trade negotiator for the Japan-EU EPA and the Japan-China-Korea FTA at the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and has held management positions at multinational corporations and international organizations, including Vodafone and Japan-ASEAN Centre. As a New York licensed lawyer, she also has practiced law at Shearman & Sterling, Jones Day and Sidley Austin. She holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College, a law degree from the University of Oxford, and a Msc. from the London School of Economics.

Rodrigo González is the Director for Tokyo of Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.

He works closely with regional business leaders to assist them in economic and market trends, business competitiveness, monetary and fiscal policy and general economic advisory to help them optimise their business strategies and further enhance their connections to their c-suite peers.

He has vast experience in statistical analysis, strategy consulting and market research in different industries in and outside Japan. Rodrigo is a published author in environmental and transport economics and has spoken at international conferences in global warming and fiscal policy throughout the world.

Rodrigo holds a PhD in Economics from Keio University and is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Japanese.