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Management Team

(As of February 20, 2015)
*1: Outside directors stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan
*2: Independent Director specified by the regulations of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
*3: Outside auditors stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan
*4: Substitute company auditor stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan

Chairman and CEO

Hiroshi Mikitani
Hiroshi Mikitani is a founder of Rakuten, Inc. Mr. Mikitani served as President from its inception in 1997, and became Chairman of the company from 2001. Mr. Mikitani is also Chairman of Crimson Football Club, Inc., Representative Director of Japan Association of New Economy, Director (President of Board of Directors) of PRICEMINISTER S.A.S., Director (Chairman) of Rakuten Kobo Inc., and Chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to founding Rakuten, Mr. Mikitani established a consulting business, Crimson Group in 1996. Prior to founding Crimson Group, Mr. Mikitani worked at the Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd. (currently Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.) from 1988 to 1996. Mr. Mikitani received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Executive Vice President and Representative Director

Toru Shimada
Toru Shimada is Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Rakuten. Mr. Shimada is a Director of Rakuten Baseball, Inc.. Mr. Shimada is Executive Director of Digital Content and Communication Business Office of the Company. Mr. Shimada joined Rakuten in 2004. Prior to joining Rakuten, Mr. Shimada was founder and Director of INTELLIGENCE, LTD from 1989 to 2004. Prior to INTELLIGENCE, LTD. Mr. Shimada worked at RECRUIT CO., LTD. from 1987 to 1989.
Masayuki Hosaka
Masayuki Hosaka is Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Rakuten. Mr. Hosaka is Executive Director of Finance Business of the Company, which includes Card, Bank, Securities, Life Insurance and other businesses. He is also President and Representative Director of Rakuten Edy, Inc. Mr. Hosaka joined Rakuten in 2005. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Hosaka worked at ORIX Credit Corporation.
Yoshihisa Yamada
Yoshihisa Yamada is Executive Vice President and Representative Director, and CFO of Rakuten. Mr. Yamada is Executive Director of Finance Department of the Company. Mr. Yamada joined Rakuten in 2000. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Yamada worked at the Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd. (currently Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.) from 1987 to 1999. Mr. Yamada holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Executive Vice President and Representative Director-nominated

Yasufumi Hirai
Yasufumi Hirai is Executive Vice President and Representative Director-nominated of Rakuten (expected to assume the position of Director upon approval at the 18th Annual General Shareholders Meeting which is planned to be held in March 27, 2015). Mr. Hirai is Chief Information Officer and Rakuten Mobile business unit officer. Mr. Hirai joined Rakuten in 2015. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Hirai was Senior Vice President, Cisco Systems, Inc. and President and General Manager, Cisco Systems G.K. Prior to Cisco, Mr. Hirai worked at Microsoft K.K., IBM Japan, and IBM Corporation in the U.S.

Managing Executive Officer and Director

Masatada Kobayashi
Masatada Kobayashi is a Managing Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten, Executive Director of Asia Regional Headquarters Office of the Company, and Director (Chairman) of Rakuten Marketing LLC. Mr. Kobayashi joined Rakuten in 1997. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Kobayashi worked at Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. from 1994 to 1996.
Akio Sugihara
Akio Sugihara is a Managing Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Sugihara is Executive Director of the Global Human Resources Department of the Company. Mr. Sugihara joined Rakuten in 1997. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Sugihara was the founder and CEO of RCA Co. Ltd from 1996 to 1997.
Kazunori Takeda
Kazunori Takeda is a Managing Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Takeda is Executive Director of Travel Business of the Company. Mr. Takeda joined Rakuten in 2006. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Takeda worked at TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION from 1986. Mr. Takeda holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Kentaro Hyakuno
Kentaro Hyakuno is a Managing Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Hyakuno is Executive Director of General Planning Department of the Company and Vice Executive Director of Americas Regional Headquarters Office. Mr. Hyakuno joined Rakuten in 2007. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Hyakuno worked at TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION from 1990.
Hiroaki Yasutake
Hiroaki Yasutake is a Managing Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten, and Executive Director of the Development Unit of the Company. Mr. Yasutake joined Rakuten in 1998. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Yasutake worked at NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION from 1997 to 1998.

Director

Charles B. Baxter
Charles B. Baxter is a Director of Rakuten. Mr. Baxter is Director (Chairman) of Rakuten Commerce LLC, Director (Chairman) of Rakuten USA, Inc., a Director of Rakuten Marketing LLC, and Chairman of Wineshipping.com LLC. Mr. Baxter has been a Director of Rakuten since 2011, and also served as a Director of Rakuten from 2001 to 2003.
Koichi Kusano
Koichi Kusano is a Director of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Kusano is a professor of Keio University Law School, Attorney and Senior Partner of Nishimura & Asahi. Mr. Kusano holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School.
Ken Kutaragi
Ken Kutaragi is a Director of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Kutaragi is Outside Director of both MarvelousAQL Inc. and Nojima Corporation, and Honorary Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after a long career in Sony Corporation since 1975.
Hiroshi Fukino
Hiroshi Fukino is a Director of the Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Fukino is President and Representative Director of Fukino Consulting, an Outside Director of MISUMI Group Inc. Mr. Fukino was previously employed by Seiko Instruments Inc. and Dell Japan Inc.
Jun Murai
Jun Murai is a Director of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). He is Outside Director of BroadBand Tower, Inc, and Dean and Professor of Faculty of Environment and Information Studies of Keio University. Jun Murai received his Ph. D in Engineering from Keio University.
Joshua G. James
Joshua G. James is a Director of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. James is a Member of World Economic Forum of Young Global Leaders, and Founder and CEO of Domo, Inc. Previously Mr. James was Founder and CEO of Omniture, Inc. and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Omniture Business Unit of Adobe Systems Inc.

Company Auditor

Yoshiaki Senoo
Yoshiaki Senoo is a Company Auditor of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Senoo is Company Auditor of Rakuten Bank Ltd. Mr. Senoo was previously employed with Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Ltd. since 1969.
Takeo Hirata
Takeo Hirata is a Company Auditor of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Hirata is a Special Advisor to the Cabinet, Head of the Research Institute for Strategy of Natural Resources at Waseda University, and Chairmen of the Board of Japan Society of Sports Industry. Mr. Hirata received his Masters degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.
Katsuyuki Yamaguchi
Katsuyuki Yamuguchi is a Company Auditor of Rakuten (an Outside Director as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Yamaguchi is an Outside Auditor of BrainPad Inc., Jupiter Telecommunications Co. Ltd., and FreeBit Co. Ltd. He is a partner of Nishimura & Asahi law firm. Mr. Yamaguchi received is LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Substitute Company Auditor

Hiroshi Takahashi
Hiroshi Takahashi is a Substitute Company Auditor of Rakuten (as stipulated under Corporate Law of Japan). Mr. Takahashi is Company Auditor of Stylife Corporation, Rakuten Edy, Inc., and Rakuten Securities Inc. Mr. Takahashi joined Rakuten in 1999. Prior to Rakuten, Mr. Takahashi was employed with Wako Securities Co. Ltd. (part of the current Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd.).
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