Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy is the Country Head for Nexdigm - Japan and leads all Business Development activities for the region. With over three decades of work experience and over two decades of residency in Japan, he is familiar with the markets in the region and has a fundamental understanding of the needs of multinational companies. Mark speaks business level Japanese and is well-versed with the customs and traditions of the country.

In his current role, Mark will focus on developing the Japanese market for Nexdigm. He is responsible for enhancing and expanding the existing ecosystem in Japan, creating more visibility for Nexdigm, and supporting Sales. He will play a key role in targeting new opportunities, nurturing existing relationships and building strategic alliances.

Before joining Nexdigm, Mark worked with Hollister Incorporated, Hollister Co. Ltd. and a subsidiary of Mitsubishi. He is an experienced hand in General Management, Sales and Marketing. Mark held various various positions of increasing responsibility at Hollister Incorporated. He has handled Product Management and Product Portfolio Management within Global Marketing with worldwide responsibility where he helped manage new product introductions, product lifecycles, and product rationalization.

Mark was also entrusted with the responsibility of setting up Hollister’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan (Hollister Co. Ltd.) in Tokyo. At Hollister Co. Ltd., Mark led the subsidiary first as Senior Vice President and later, President of the company, where he was responsible for overall profitability and oversaw every aspect of the business including Sales, Marketing, HR, Finance, Logistics, and Quality Assurance.

Mark holds a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on healthcare from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, Illinois. He also holds a Bachelors degree in Arts from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. During his college years, he was an exchange student at both Waseda University and Nichibeikaiwagakuin in Tokyo where he studied intensive Japanese.

On a personal front, Mark enjoys writing for Japan Insider, an online media resource and founded the Real Gaijin Substack where he typically writes about business-related issues, the unique culture of Japan and travel. He is passionate about hiking, bicycle touring and marine sports (particularly sailing and windsurfing) and documents his sporting excursions via his YouTube channel called Country Roads Japan.