CEO Insights Magazine

Japan's consulting industry outlook is evolving, emphasizing the pivotal role of top leadership. As the market experiences transformations, leaders must adeptly navigate the shift from traditional approaches to advanced strategies. The demand for comprehensive IT partners is growing, requiring leaders with diverse expertise to guide companies through complex landscapes. The strategic vision and innovative thinking of top leadership are instrumental in shaping the industry's future and ensuring businesses effectively leverage industry-leading solutions in diverse sectors.

Yukihiro Wada, Group CEO of XELEN Holdings, is at the forefront of Japan's evolving consulting industry. As a seasoned leader, he brings in over two decades of expertise from diverse sectors, including finance, retail, consulting, and more holding leadership roles at renowned companies. From orchestrating a major retail company's successful IPO to navigating technology landscapes at Google, Skylark Group, and Uber Eats, each chapter shapes his understanding of the industry. Motivated by the belief that companies struggle to find comprehensive IT partners, Yukihiro founded XELEN Holdings, a commitment to being a true partner for Japanese companies and aims to seamlessly support corporations, providing cutting-edge solutions in the consulting, engineering, and technology landscape.

In an exclusive interaction with CEO Insights Asia, Yukihiro Wada sheds light on his professional traits and XELEN Holdings' unique role in Japan's consulting landscape.

Give a brief account of your professional journey and what motivates your daily routines.

Embarking on a journey that spans finance, McKinsey, and leadership roles at renowned companies, my professional evolution has been marked by diverse experiences. From steering a major retail company through a successful IPO to navigating the intricate landscapes of technology at Google, Skylark Group, and Uber Eats, each chapter has shaped my understanding of the industry.

My motivation is to build a conglomerate that seamlessly supports corporations, from high-level strategy to detailed field operations. The focal points are enhancing the ROI of IT investments and providing Japanese companies access to the world's most advanced technologies.

Define XELEN Holdings as an organization and its position in the market.

XELEN Holdings is not just a business venture, it's a commitment to being a true partner for Japanese companies. The ongoing acquisitions and partnerships are geared towards creating a robust consultancy platform that delivers diverse, advanced strategies and cutting-edge technologies. The goal is to maximize ROI across strategic, operational, and technological facets, offering a unique value proposition to clients.

XELEN, founded in August, operates as a startup holding company. In our startup phase, we've strategically acquired profitable companies with a decade or more of market expertise, ranging from 100 to 300 employees. We're not just acquiring companies; we're enhancing their profitability and growth trajectory, aligning with our IPO target for 2027. Engaging with senior professionals, we prioritize enhancing profitability and group growth. Despite being a startup in the consulting industry, XELEN Holdings has already secured recognition from key Japanese corporations, leveraging my past roles as CTO & CMO at Skylark Group and Head of Strategy at Google.

Could you tell me about the unique traits of your leadership? Also, as the Group CEO, what are the factors you check when developing effective corporate growth strategies?

My leadership is distinguished by a senior management team comprising McKinsey and Accenture alumni, along with legal experts. This unique blend ensures a strategic edge for XELEN Holdings, with a focus on developing impactful digital strategies. Our team's McKinsey background, a rarity in startup consulting, brings unparalleled expertise.

Engaging with clients from diverse perspectives, we initiate discussions from the strategic apex, a distinctive approach often challenging for other firms. This strategic foresight uniquely positions us in the market, allowing us to navigate complex corporate growth strategies precisely, starting from the very upstream of strategic deliberations.