#Japan #Fukuoka #AI Assistant #Nulab #Backlog

Nulab Unveils a New Management Structure for Future Growth

Nulab, headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, has officially announced a transition to a new management framework, which is crucial to drive its future growth. This change, approved during the regular shareholders' meeting and interim board of directors held on June 24, 2026, involves the appointments of Jun Ogawa as Director COO (Chief Operating Officer) and Seiichiro Nakashima as Director CPO (Chief Product Officer). With these additions, the new management team will consist of four key members, including CEO Masanori Hashimoto and external board member Fumi Koizumi, aiming to enhance product strategy and operational management.

Background for the New Management Structure

Nulab has been dedicated to its mission of 'To make simple and enjoyable' since its inception in 2004, developing cloud services that support team collaboration. Its flagship product, the project and task management tool "Backlog," is currently employed by over 1.5 million users and has 15,000 paid subscriptions, becoming a foundational asset for various organizations.

Since going public in 2022, Nulab has been focusing on strengthening its business base and enhancing functionality. Notable future developments include the launch of the "Backlog AI Assistant" in 2026 and the release of the workflow automation tool "Nulab Flowbase," marking the company’s commitment to delivering new value through AI. The accumulation of 21 years of operational data concerning human interaction and decision-making is seen as a significant competitive edge in an era increasingly reliant on AI.

In light of these evolving business conditions and growth opportunities, Nulab has selected Jun Ogawa, who has substantial experience in leading various growth-centric organizations, to step into the COO role. Additionally, Seiichiro Nakashima, who has been overseeing product strategy, will transition into the CPO position, further strengthening the executive management team.

Background of the New Executives

Jun Ogawa (Director COO)

Jun graduated from Doshisha University and began his career at Recruit, where he launched the mobile ASP business and worked as an area producer for "Jalan." He held several leadership positions at Google Japan, including launching and managing the advertising sales division and the advertising agency business. Ogawa received the Great Manager Award, an honor reserved for a select few managers worldwide. He has also contributed significantly at Kaizen Platform, Cookpad, and Toyokumo as a business leader and director.

Starting in 2025, Ogawa will bear the responsibility of overseeing the entire business execution at Nulab, focusing on advancing growth strategies and revenue. He states:

"Nulab's products have a robust foundation in the technical domain, but there remains substantial potential for expansion across the entire business landscape. With a user base of 1.5 million generated primarily through referrals, there's a vast untapped market that can be reached by effectively integrating sales and marketing efforts. As COO, I aim to translate that potential into actual business growth while balancing the discipline of a public company with the adventurous spirit of a startup."

Seiichiro Nakashima (Director CPO)

Seiichiro completed his studies at Kwansei Gakuin University and worked at IHI, Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory, and Sumitomo Electric Industries in finance, accounting, and consultancy roles. He later joined Freee, where he initialized the customer success division and was the local business leader for the western Japan region, eventually rising to CPO and leading product strategy and organizational development. In 2025, he will also join Nulab to advance product strategy formulation.

He comments:

"The advent of AI has begun to change the value proposition sought in SaaS products. What Nulab has amassed over 21 years is not just task data but the very context in which teams have made decisions and moved forward. As CPO, my focus will be to transform this accumulation into product designs where both humans and AI can collaborate effectively. AI should read context while allowing humans to concentrate on decision-making and dialogue, and I am committed to bringing this vision to life through Nulab's offerings."

The New Management Team

Official Note Interview Article

In conjunction with the introduction of the new management structure, a panel interview featuring CEO Masanori Hashimoto, CPO Seiichiro Nakashima, and COO Jun Ogawa has been published on the official Nulab Note. For insights into the background of the new structure and future outlook, be sure to check it out at Nulab's Note.

About Nulab

• - CEO: Masanori Hashimoto
• - Headquarters: 1-8-6 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, HCC BLD, 2, 6, 7F
• - Tokyo Office: 2-1-16 Shiba Daimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, +SHIFT SHIBADAIMON B1F
• - Corporate Site: Nulab
• - Careers Site: Careers at Nulab