Mr. Kenichi Katae
Toyota Industries Corporation
In April 1991, he joined Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. (now Toyota Industries Corporation). In the Material Handling Equipment Dept., he worked on hydraulic system evaluation in the testing section, and steering axle design in the engineering section. After moving to the Advanced Development Dept., he was engaged in the development of hybrid systems and Fuel-cell systems for industrial and construction machinery. Then he served as general manager of the Development Dept.Ⅱ of the Technology and Development Division, and with the launch of an AR (Automation & Robotics) project in June 2020, he was in charge of its overall automation development as project leader. In April 2024, he was appointed as executive officer, and is responsible for the company’s entire IT digital management, as well as the automation development.
Mr. Keizo Iwashita
TAKENAKA CORPORATION
After graduating from graduate school in 1986, he joined TAKENAKA CORPORATION. Working in the applied mathematics department of Takenaka Research & Development Institute, he was involved in the research, development, and application of numerical analysis technology, mainly in the field of earthquake-resistant structures. From 2003, he undertook corporate strategic planning duties in the planning division. In 2013, he was appointed general manager of the technology planning at the technology planning division. In addition to planning and promotion of R&D strategies, he led open innovation initiatives with Japanese and the U.S. startups. In 2017, he was appointed general manager of the Group’s information and communication technology division, where he promoted cultural reform of the information division and digital transformation of the company’s business. In 2022, he was appointed executive officer, Digital, and general manager of the Digital Division. From 2024, he holds the role of executive officer, Digital.
Mr. Yoichi Tasaki
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
In 1991, he joined Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works and assigned to the Systems Division, and engaged in factory automation, CAD/CAM, new product development, and enterprise system renewal. From 2009, he worked at the Power Systems business headquarters, where he was in charge of PM for construction support and logistics management system development for thermal power generation business, as well as development of enterprise production system using PLM-ERP, and some other projects. In 2015, he was transferred to Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS), where he was involved in the integration of enterprise systems covering sales, design, and production, the building a global communication platform, and support for build of a cloud-based remote monitoring platform. In 2021, he transferred ICT Solution Headquarters of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where he remains to this day.
Yuji Ikegaya, Ph.D.
The University of Tokyo.
Dr. Yuji Ikegaya received his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo in 1998 and has been a professor at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2014. His area of expertise is neurophysiology, exploring neuronal plasticity and brain health. He excels at simultaneous recordings from multiple neurons, and his complex data analysis has revealed important properties of several neural circuits (Science 2004, 2011, 2012, 2018, and 2019; Nat Neurosci 2014). Since 2018, he has been the head of the ERATO Brain-AI Hybrid Project, which aims to develop a new dimension of intelligence using transplantation of AI chips into the brains.
K. Krithivasan
Tata Consultancy Services
K. Krithivasan is the chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT solutions and consulting firm, assuming the position in June 2023. In his prior role, Krithi was the global head of Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) Business Group and played a key role in building deep customer relationships and mindshare as well as market positioning across geographies. He has been with TCS for over three decades helping customers with their growth and transformation journeys and technology strategies. Krithi has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Madras and a master’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He is also an avid reader and a fitness enthusiast.
Satish Thiagarajan
Tata Consultancy Services Japan, Ltd.
Satish Thiagarajan is President and CEO of TCS Japan. He acquired a B. Tech Chemical Engineering at NIT Warangal, India in 1989. Following graduation, he went on to earn his CFA and MBA from ICFAI Business School-Hyderabad in 1997, whilst building a career across organizations in IT services, management consulting, and engineering services. In addition to diverse experience leading global IT service projects, he has a proven track record managing large IT application and infrastructure transformation programs, and driving service development initiatives. In 2013, he assumed the role of TCS’ Global Head of Cyber Security. In that role he helped TCS build their cyber security service catalog and go to market strategy, and helped scale the business before accepting the responsibility of Chief Delivery Officer for TCS Japan in November 2019. Effective April 2022, he assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer. Then he was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer as of April 1, 2024.
Hiroshi Kojima
Tata Consultancy Services Japan, Ltd.
Hiroshi Kojima is Executive Officer & Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Trading Cluster Head of TCS Japan, assuming his current position in May 2024. He joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 1983, engaging in wide range of businesses including development projects for industrial machinery and infrastructure. He has accumulated operational experiences globally, with his careers working in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Istanbul and Manila. From April 2019 he has served as Chief Administrative Officer of TCS Japan. Effective July 2020, he has also assumed the role of Chief Administrative Officer, Sales Cluster Head & Vice President.
Moderators
Ms. Yūko Ezure
newscaster
Yūko holds a Master's degree in Economics. After working for “TBS”, “Fuji TV” and “TV Tokyo”, she was the main anchor for Nikkei Group's “Nikkei CNBC” for 9 years, as well as the market anchor for TV Tokyo's and various business news programs on “Radio NIKKEI” for 16 years. Yūko’s work has extended to the other areas such as the international business information program “The World Now - JETRO Global Eye” and InterFM's “Investor's Sunday”, and has lectured at universities, interviewed corporate executives, hosted and moderated seminars, while also appearing in TV commercials and film. In the corporate arena, Yūko is also an audit committee member and external board member of a listed company, public relations advisor to companies, and a board member of a public interest incorporated foundation.
Mariko Mochihara
Tata Consultancy Services Japan, Ltd.
