Mena Kato
Tokyo
Summary
Accomplished executive with more than 25 years of technology, gaming and entertainment industry experience, having expertise in global business development, strategic partnerships and advising C-suite executives, with deep understanding of brand management, intellectual property, product and service development, and partnership management. Proven record of managing diverse teams in large global corporations, with leadership success based on culture, communication, and mentorship, and interest to balance globalization with local cultural sensitivities and values.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Director, Head of Xbox Asia
MICROSOFT JAPAN KK
07.2025 - Current
- Responsible for driving engagement and partnership for Xbox with game publishers and developers based in Asia.
- The team is located across Japan, China, Korea and USA, managing members from diverse background and cultures.
- Being the most senior in region, the responsibilities expand beyond the team, to be the first line of executive contact for Xbox internally and externally in Asia.
Senior Director, Head of Xbox Japan
MICROSOFT JAPAN KK
07.2023 - 05.2025
- Responsible for driving engagement and partnership for Xbox with game publishers and developers based in Japan, as well as representing Xbox as the most senior member within the region, both internally and externally.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities. By creating new engagement opportunities and first-time events in Japan, we established a new image for Xbox with partners.
- Established a high-performing team by actively recruiting top-tier candidates from diverse backgrounds, while implementing a growth mindset across the team, fostering a work culture of collaboration and inclusion, resulting in one of the highest jumps in the morale score within Xbox.
- Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies by reevaluating accounts, securing headcount and vendor budget, and establishing effective workflow and decision-making mindset.
Director, Client Technology Hub
EY JAPAN KK
02.2022 - 06.2023
- Managed the newly created technology asset development team, responsible for planning, developing, and delivering solutions based on the technology needs of the company and its clients, including the localization and customization of global technology products. Member of the Center of Excellence for Innovation for the EY group in Japan.
- Built a high performing organization that created quality technology assets, established internal and external alliances, and grew the DX technology business for EY. The team increased in size from 50 to more than 70 members, introduced product development pipelines, and enabled the realization of new KPIs.
- Successfully brought lineup of global EY technology products to Japan, localizing and customizing according to the needs of the company and clients.
Vice President, Mobile Business, JAPAN Studio
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
04.2020 - 03.2021
- Responsible for creating strategy and plan for the studio's future in the mobile game business.
Vice President, Business Development, JAPAN Studio
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
05.2011 - 03.2020
- Responsible for all business functions in first-party game development studio for PlayStation in Japan, providing leadership in building external and internal partnerships, and navigating stakeholders to create relevant concepts and products, and build global go-to-market strategies. Oversaw global production, localization of games into Asia, IP management, business deals, community management, and overall business direction of the studio.
- Established various business partnerships with industry leaders such as From Software to create new IPs like “Bloodborne,” and industry innovators like Bluepoint Games to recreate IPs and bring them to market worldwide.
- Managed global initiatives with hardware R&D groups to strategize the next-generation console and platform, including PlayStation 5.
- As a key member in restructuring the studio in 2011, established a new strategy and organization, and led the effort to upgrade processes and products to global standards and implemented effective development methods.
- Established a high-performing team from the ground up to assemble various business functions into one organization, resulting in effective decision-making and execution in product development and go-to-market planning.
Director, PSS Unit, Corporate Business Development
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
10.2009 - 04.2011
- Responsible for the overall management of the 'PlayStation Phone' (PSS) project. Leading the initiative in partnership with Google, Sony Ericsson, mobile network operators, and Sony to deliver the PlayStation-branded phone and game contents to the Android Marketplace efficiently and effectively
- Successfully put together a deal with Google’s Android team to gain support for the phone, as well as strategic placement of PlayStation games within the Android Marketplace.
- Navigated through stakeholders including C-suite executives, internal PlayStation teams, external partner teams at Google, Sony Ericsson and global network operators such as Verizon and AT&T, from negotiating a deal, and alignment and executing a global go-to-market plan.
- Established a publishing pipeline for games to be curated, emulated, and QA tested for the hardware, and deployed to the Android Marketplace.
Director, Business Relations, JAPAN Studio, Worldwide Studios
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
01.2006 - 06.2009
- Created the business relations position to represent the Japanese arm within the global first-party organization. A liaison to all external and internal relations, built strong partnerships with stakeholders, and established global licensing, aligning methods and organizations with other industry leaders, implemented global standards and best practices, and, for the first time, created studio-led global marketing and PR plans for the products. Using experience and knowledge, led and executed the global strategy and portfolio for the studio.
Education
International Christian University
Tokyo, JapanLondon School of Economics
London, UKSeisen International School
Tokyo, JapanTrinity School
Georgia, USASkills
- Collaborative leadership
- Stakeholder relations and partnerships
- Global product management
- Strategy planning and execution
- Cross cultural team management
- Organizational development
Timeline
Senior Director, Head of Xbox Asia
MICROSOFT JAPAN KK
07.2025 - Current
Senior Director, Head of Xbox Japan
MICROSOFT JAPAN KK
07.2023 - 05.2025
Director, Client Technology Hub
EY JAPAN KK
02.2022 - 06.2023
Vice President, Mobile Business, JAPAN Studio
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
04.2020 - 03.2021
Vice President, Business Development, JAPAN Studio
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
05.2011 - 03.2020
Director, PSS Unit, Corporate Business Development
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
10.2009 - 04.2011
Director, Business Relations, JAPAN Studio, Worldwide Studios
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
01.2006 - 06.2009
International Christian University
London School of Economics
Seisen International School
Trinity School
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