Company veteran and senior partner Dave Michels has been named the next head of Bain’s Japanese operations after moving to Tokyo earlier this year.

The Japanese branch of global strategy consultancy Bain & Company has named Dave Michels as the new national leader in Japan, with Michels succeeding Shintaro Okuno from early next year – celebrated as the 40th anniversary of Bain’s office in Tokyo. A veteran of the firm for more than two and a half decades, Michels currently leads Bain’s global Change and Implementation practice.

“Japan is a very important market that has found its own way to grow without the economy coming to a complete stop, even during the pandemic,” said Manny Maceda, global managing partner of Bain. “We are confident that Dave’s leadership in our global change and results delivery practices will provide strong support to executives in Japan as they navigate difficult times during and after Covid-19. “

Michel joined Bain & Company in 1995 after graduating with a degree in Economics and International Relations from Duke University (shortly after completing an MBA from Harvard Business School), and has since worked in several geographies spanning North America. North and South, Europe and Asia. – including in India, and, after moving from Zurich earlier this year, to Japan.

During his career at Bain, Michels has served clients in a wide range of industries – including healthcare, industrials, consumer products, retail and financial services – providing advice in areas such as operating model and improvement, growth strategy, business development and cultural change. He is also a frequent author and speaker on Leadership, Transformation and Change.

“Dave’s diverse and global vision will be invaluable not only to Japan, but also to the entire Asia-Pacific region which is experiencing rapid transformation,” said Satish Shankar, Bain’s regional managing partner for Asia. Pacific, who at the time of his move said Michels was known as a trusted senior advisor for “his ability to inspire leaders and help companies identify and achieve lasting results.”

Michels will take the reins from Shintaro Okuno, who had headed the Tokyo office since 2014 after joining the firm for the first time in 2003. After completing his rotation under Bain’s “department manager” model, Okuno moved on to will focus from next year on serving the firm’s important clientele. relationships as a senior partner.

Michels said that as the company matures, it will inherit the in-depth knowledge of the Tokyo office cultivated to this day. “Founded in 1982, the Bain Tokyo office will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2022 and I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of our clients and partners who have supported us in our growth over the years,” he said. -he declares. .

“We are committed to evolving our firm to enhance the value of our clients’ business in response to growing uncertainty and drastic changes in the social environment. “