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The Marketing Standard team is made up of professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, all of whom have spent many years living and working in a variety of different cultures.

Sam Kawai - Director & Senior Consultant

Sam has spent more than 16 years in international business. For 10 years he was Head of the European operation of a Japanese corporation, with extensive experience in the conception and fulfilment of strategic plans. This included setting up new companies in Germany and Turkey, a joint venture in Serbia, Russia and South Africa, and the establishment and development of a number of businesses in Japan, Asia, Europe, South Africa, Turkey and Russia.

At Marketing Standard, Sam focuses on market entry and business development projects between Japan and Europe, as well as delivering market seminars, business and cultural briefings, working both with the public and the private sector.

Sam holds a BA (Hons) degree in International Business Administration, and is a corporate member and Business & Community liaison of the Midlands Japanese Association.

His areas of expertise are:

• International market analysis and strategic planning
• Business development and budgeting
• Strategic sales and marketing
• Establishment of new businesses
• Pan-European business
• Japanese business culture

Yukio Yamauchi - Business Development Manager- Japan office

Yukio, prior to joining Marketing Standard, has enjoyed a long business career in both the private and the public sector. He was stationed in, and worked in, the UK for 9 years, including serving as a Senior Trade Advisor to JETRO, from which he gained a wealth of experience of bridging the gap between the different business strategies and cultures of the UK and Japan. Prior to his appointment for JETRO he worked in a senior post at one of the biggest Japanese trading companies. He has expertise across the globe in various industries including Machinery, IT, Media & Telecommunications and the General Commodities business.

His areas of expertise are:

• Planning tactical marketing / sales action plans
• Market analysis
• Business development
• Investment & trading
• Business negotiation

Yukio holds a BA (Hons) degree from Waseda University in Commerce and Business.

Dr Kamila Kawai - Marketing Director & Project Manager

Kamila has over 10 years’ experience in scientific research, coordinating complex projects and being an important link between academia and industry across several countries, including Japan, the UK and Eastern and Central Europe.

Subsequent to her academic career, she worked in Purchasing for a major Japanese trading house, sourcing products from China and Japan to sell in Europe.

With advanced research and data analysis skills, Kamila formulates unique reports, giving an overall picture of current market structures and the latest trends, and demonstrating how clients' products and services can fit into the market.

Kamila holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham in Metallurgy and Materials, an MSc in Engineering Technologies, and is a professional member of Institute of Cast Metals Engineers, as well as being a member of Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Kamila’s key areas of expertise are:

• Advanced research
• Complex data analysis
• Industrial marketing
• Project management