[Webinar] - Responding to pandemic: What have the companies learnt from covid-19

Nobuko co-leads the EY-Parthenon Consumer practice in Japan, advising C-suite clients in consumer industry both from Japanese and multinational companies. Her consulting topics include growth strategy, organizational strategy and corporate development (M&A).

Given her background as an activist fund analyst, she provides a shareholder’s perspective. Her cross-border work and educational experience gives her the unique ability to cross the cultural gap which often hinders multinational companies operating in Japan or Japanese companies operating overseas.

Prior to joining EY in 2018, Nobuko served Japanese and multinational clients at a strategy consulting firm for over a decade. Outside consulting, she also has corporate development experience. She shares her views on a range of topics from corporate governance to gender diversity on various media outlets, including Nikkei Asian Review and Bloomberg.

Nobuko earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a master’s degree in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics from the University of Tokyo.

Klaus Meder has held the post of the President and Representative Director Bosch Corporation, Tokyo, Japan since 2017. He is responsible for Japan as a country manager with about 7000 associates and about 4 bn Euro turnover including several activities in Thailand as well.

Klaus entered Bosch Corporation in 1987 and held numerous positions in the company, including Vice President and Director ASCO Corporation (joint venture with Bosch Corporation), Tomioka, Japan and Board Member of Division Chassis Systems Control, Abstatt, Germany. From 2012 to 2017 he was the President of Division Automotive Electronics, Reutlingen, Germany where he was responsible for strategic planning for one of the biggest divisions of Bosch with close to 30000 employees and 8 production sites.

He was awarded a degree in telecommunications and electronics from University of Darmstadt in 1987. In addition to native German, he is proficient in English and Japanese languages.

Katsuhiko Umetsu is Executive Officer of Yamato Holdings, responsible for International Strategic Planning and Development & International Affairs. Mr Umetsu started his career in Yamato Holdings in 2008 and served in different roles, including General Manager of Division of Global Business Development and General Manager of Division of Global Business Development.

Before Yamato Holdings, he worked from 1983 to 2008 in Seibu Department Stores, Ltd., becoming Manager of Division of Global Development & Chief Secretary of The Seibu Department Stores, Ltd.

Takuji Okubo is the North Asia Director of The Economist Corporate Network, managing the Networks in Japan and in South Korea.

Prior to joining The Economist Group, Takuji was the Managing Director and Chief Economist at Japan Macro Advisors, serving global fortune 500 companies and financial institutions in Japan and abroad. In his past career, Takuji was a Chief Economist at Societe Generale, in charge of Japan and of South Korea, and a senior economist at Merrill Lynch and at Goldman Sachs. Outside his role at ECN, Takuji also serves as a non-executive director at Japan Risk Forum, an association of Chief Risk Officers among Japanese financial institutions.

Takuji holds B.A in Economics from Tokyo University and while at the university he was a recipient of prestigious INOUE scholarship. He holds MBA from INSEAD and Msc. In Economics from UPF in Barcelona. Apart from work, he enjoys motor-cycling, scuba-diving, cooking as well as worrying about the future of the Japanese economy.