#Japan #Tokyo #Metareal #Fumon Akiyama #P&G

Metareal Group Appoints Fumon Akiyama as New CMO

On April 14, 2023, Metareal Group, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, announced the exciting appointment of Fumon Akiyama as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Akiyama brings a wealth of experience from Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he successfully led brand strategy for both the Singapore and Japanese markets. Known for driving growth for numerous consumer goods brands, Akiyama's strategic acumen is particularly noted in leveraging global consumer insights to craft successful marketing strategies.

Under his leadership at P&G, Akiyama received accolades for implementing marketing initiatives that fostered revenue growth at both the corporate and product levels, while simultaneously promoting sustainability goals (SDGs). His ability to draw from various perspectives to provide strategic leadership will be essential as Metareal positions itself as an innovator in advanced solutions utilizing generative AI technology.

As Akiyama takes on the CMO role, Metareal Group aims to further enhance its marketing strategy and strengthen its brand value. The company is eager to evolve and progress to its next phase, fueled by Akiyama's insights and expertise.

Akiyama's Vision for the Future

In Akiyama's own words regarding the potential of AI: "The versatility of AI opens up possibilities across various industries. However, it is crucial to focus on market selection and development, uncovering customer latent needs and insights, as well as designing unique value propositions and customer experiences."

He emphasizes that as foundational AI technologies become widely accessible and commoditized, establishing sustainable differentiation will become increasingly challenging. According to Akiyama, comprehensive marketing strategies that include corporate branding, tailored vertical customer experience (CX) design, partnership building, and go-to-market (GTM) strategies will be vital for securing competitive positioning in the marketplace. Together with CEO Junichi Goishi, who harbors ambitious visions, and CTO Hiroshi Yonekura, who masterfully employs AI, Akiyama is set to harness the transformative power of technology to spur new value creation and drive societal adoption.

Akiyama’s Impressive Background

Fumon Akiyama's career began in 2013 at P&G Japan as a marketing professional. Soon after, he transferred to the Asian headquarters in Singapore. There, he served as project leader for the fabric care division, where he was instrumental in formulating long-term brand strategies, launching new products, and leading comprehensive marketing strategies that spanned multiple channels.

Upon returning to Japan, Akiyama took the role of Marketing Director for P&G's Olympic Team, directing marketing strategies for the 2018 PyeongChang, 2020 Tokyo, and 2022 Beijing Olympics. His work significantly contributed not only to maximizing revenue for individual brands but also in enhancing corporate branding, fortifying partnerships, and implementing measures aligned with sustainability goals, resulting in substantial business growth. Subsequently, he joined UMAMI UNITED JAPAN, a deep-tech firm developing next-generation plant-based food ingredients, as Chief Operating Officer (COO), overhauling business strategies and steering entry into the American market.

Comments from Leadership

CEO Junichi Goishi commented on Akiyama’s appointment, indicating, "Our challenge has always been that while we possess remarkable technical expertise, our marketing efforts have lagged. With Akiyama’s extensive background in robust marketing, we are now well-positioned to leverage our technical strengths more effectively in the market."

He added, "With Akiyama’s leadership, we will deploy strategic marketing activities that effectively capture market trends, enabling us to communicate our brand’s appeal to a broader audience. We aim to fuse marketing with technology and advance into a new growth phase."

CTO Hiroshi Yonekura also expressed his enthusiasm for Akiyama's contributions, stating, "Akiyama's trajectory is not merely a tale of accumulated success; it represents a symbol of growth—from innovative marketing strategies at P&G to strategic direction on the Olympic stage to a reconstitution of management practices. His foresight and execution will become invaluable assets for our company."

About Metareal Group

Founded in 2004, Metareal Group is dedicated to its mission of freeing people from the constraints of time, location, and language. It currently holds the leading position in Japan's translation market for dialog AI and machine learning platforms, addressing a diverse range of fields such as law, pharmaceuticals, finance, chemistry, IT, machinery, and electronics.

The company has pioneered AI development for various applications including translation, financial reports, pharmaceutical solutions, and game localization. As it prepares to welcome Akiyama, Metareal Group is focused on accelerating its business growth while integrating fresh perspectives and values into its strategies.

Visit Metareal for more information and updates on this exciting new chapter.