UPWARD Welcomes Former Salesforce Japan Vice Chairman as Executive Advisor for Enhanced Sales Strategy

UPWARD's Strategic Appointment of Shigefumi Komori

UPWARD Co., Ltd., based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has exciting news for the field sales sector. Announcing a significant enhancement to their team, UPWARD has appointed Shigefumi Komori, the former Vice Chairman of Salesforce Japan, as Executive Advisor, effective June 2025. This strategic decision aims to bolster UPWARD's mission: to revolutionize the last mile in field sales by automating data collection and making next-action activities more intuitive.

Background of Shigefumi Komori

Shigefumi Komori brings a wealth of experience to UPWARD's team. He began his career in 1982 with Hewlett-Packard Japan and rapidly climbed the ranks, culminating in his role as Executive Director and Senior Executive Officer. From 2012 onwards, he led the Enterprise Group's sales efforts before transitioning to Salesforce, where he oversaw the company's enterprise business strategy. His tenure saw substantial growth in both corporate and public sectors in areas outside of the Kanto region, leading him to eventually serve as Vice Chairman until his departure in February 2025.

Why UPWARD?

UPWARD operates under the mission of transforming the final segments of the sales process through innovative, cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) tailored to field sales. As they aim to further strengthen their business structure, having Komori on board is expected to enhance collaboration with Salesforce Japan, an alliance that has proven vital in the past for UPWARD's growth. Komori's extensive background in IT solutions sales, combined with his previous success at Salesforce, positions him uniquely to catalyze UPWARD's enterprise sales strategy.

Comments from Shigefumi Komori

Reflecting on his new role, Komori expressed, "UPWARD has developed a product that prioritizes user interface and experience for CRM data entry in field sales. My previous strong relationship with Salesforce Japan has positioned both entities in a complementary partnership. By leveraging UPWARD's capabilities, we can enhance the value of Salesforce significantly. I am excited about pushing this collaboration forward, invigorating the sales technology space, and increasing the value that field sales bring in the emerging AI-driven society."

Comments from Ryusuke Kaneki, CEO of UPWARD

Ryusuke Kaneki, CEO of UPWARD, shared his enthusiasm about the appointment: "We are thrilled to welcome Shigefumi Komori as our Executive Advisor. During his tenure at Salesforce, he was instrumental in supporting UPWARD's business growth as a strategic partner. With Komori on board, we anticipate that our enterprise sales team will be even stronger, enhancing customer engagement and driving unprecedented growth outcomes."

UPWARD's Core Offering

At the heart of UPWARD's operations lies their innovative sales engagement service, especially crafted for field sales. With proprietary advanced geofencing technology, UPWARD automates the customer contact recording process while delivering a variety of AI features specifically designed for sales professionals. With over 400 major companies leveraging UPWARD in their operations, the platform has emerged as a pivotal driver of digital transformation in sales.

If you'd like to learn more about UPWARD, feel free to visit their official website.

A Dialogue Between Leadership

To mark Komori's new role, a dialogue was held between CEO Ryusuke Kaneki and Shigefumi Komori, discussing the future of sales in an AI-dominated landscape and the enterprise challenges ahead. This engaging conversation is available both in video format on YouTube and in written form on note.

Company Overview

- Company Name: UPWARD Co., Ltd.
- Established: March 2002
- CEO: Ryusuke Kaneki
- Location: Marunouchi Eiraku Building 26F, 1-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
- Business: Development and provision of the sales engagement service "UPWARD"
- URL: UPWARD Corp.