INTERVIEW

CEO of Konishi Decorative Arts and Crafts Co. Born in the UK in 1965. After graduating from the University of Oxford with an M.A. in Japanese studies in 1987, he joined Andersen Consulting in London and New York. He then joined U.S. investment bank Salomon Brothers as a Tokyo-based banking analyst, prior to moving to Goldman Sachs as a banking analyst in 1992. He was promoted to managing director in 1998 and then appointed partner in 2006. In 2007 he left the bank. He joined Konishi as a consultant in 2009, and was engaged in projects to repair and re-build national treasures and important cultural properties. In 2010 he assumed the post of executive chairman. He has served as Konishi CEO since 2011. Using his in-depth knowledge of Japanese traditional culture and cultural properties, he has served as a Visit Kyoto Ambassador since 2015, and has also participated in a number of advisory councils on tourism and culture.