How to select the right country manager for your subsidiary in Japan?
selecting the right country manager for your subsidiary in Japan is the most critical decision
Your success in Japan will depends on the choice of the right country manager for your subsidiary.
I could see several patterns in Japan. I will not over-simplify it but will discuss in general the pros and cons of each pattern.
The expat from the headquarter:
generally following a rotation in his expat tours (maybe after Dubai or New-York). Will generally stay 3 years and move on.
pros:
- knows the headquarter, the peoples, knows how to make things happen back home
cons:
- does not understanding Japan nor its culture
- will have to rely on mid-management (which might have different agenda and will wait that he finishes his posting in Japan)
The Japanese president, brought from outside (and who has of course all the connections)
pros:
- as seniority in Japan is still respected, he might help to stabilize an organization which had been traumatized if they had a hellish foreign country manager!
cons:
- coming from outside, does not know the company and how it works in the headquarter
- as most probably senior, might not have the will or interest to learn it and might just wait retirement
the long term foreign resident in Japan
we see more and more such pattern. Many companies are reducing on expatriates and the large costs involved with their relocation + the perks.
More companies are trying to invest on peoples who know Japan, the language, the culture and who still have something in common, being European or from the West in general.
pros:
- as mentioned before they know the culture, the language and will be able to be a very good link between the headquarter and the subsidiary
cons:
- coming from outside they don’t know the company. But still if young enough they will be able to catch quite quickly and learn quickly the insights of the company.
- there are few of them.
Yes it is true that compared to 20 years ago you have much more foreign professionals in Japan knowing the language.
But still knowing the language only is not enough to run a company.
I would estimate to less than 200, the number of foreign national in Japan mastering completely Japanese AND having experience of running a company.
the long term manager in the gaishikei
often when the current country manager retires you have either choice to bring someone from outside or from inside.
Sometimes you will chose someone who has been long enough in the company and promote him to this position of country manager.
pros:
- know the company and the peoples
cons:
- might not be an agent of change (if not would have done it already)
- it might generate conflict in the organization (jealousy)
