Commercial Director
Boku Inc. (BOKU.L) is the leading global provider of local mobile-first payments solutions. Global brands including Amazon, DAZN, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Sony, Spotify, and Tencent rely on Boku to reach millions of new paying consumers who do not use credit cards with our purpose-built payment network of more than 300 local payment methods across 70+ countries. Every year, Boku processes over $10 billion in value for our customers. Incorporated in 2008, Boku is headquartered in London and San Francisco and has employees in over 39 countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE. Boku is a truly global company that takes pride in its diversity and thriving equal opportunity workplace.
Position Overview:
The Commercial Director, Japan will be the senior executive responsible for building, managing, and growing the Boku’s presence in Japan. This individual will oversee commercial growth, strategic partnerships, regulatory compliance, operations, and team leadership. In addition, they will act as will serve as Boku Japan Representative and, when necessary, attend regulatory audits conducted by relevant authorities (e.g., METI), representing the company.
The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with deep expertise in the Japanese payments ecosystem, strong commercial acumen, and proven experience in leading organizations through market entry, scale-up, and sustained growth.
This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic vision with execution excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement the Japan market strategy, aligned with the Boku’s global objectives.
- Assess market trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory environment to identify risks and opportunities.
- Drive the positioning of the Boku as the preferred PSP for global merchants operating in Japan.
Business Development & Growth
- Lead merchant acquisition and growth, with a focus on e-commerce, digital goods, financial services, and gaming.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with senior decision-makers at target merchants.
- Deliver consistent revenue growth
Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement
- Establish and grow strategic partnerships with banks, payment institutions, telecom operators, regulators, and industry bodies.
- Actively represent the Boku in industry associations, conferences, and regulatory discussions, positioning the business as a thought leader.
- Influence and shape the evolution of local payment regulations to support innovation and growth.
Operational Excellence & Compliance
- Ensure robust service delivery and customer success for merchants and partners in Japan.
- Work with global sales engineering and product teams to localize offerings, enhance integration, and ensure compliance with Japanese regulations.
- Work with global regulatory and compliance teams and maintain rigorous oversight of risk management, security, and financial reporting requirements.
Leadership & Team Development
- Build and manage a high-performing local commercial team, including business development and account management.
- Instill a customer-first, performance-driven culture, aligned with Boku values.
Qualifications & Experience:
1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
2. Professional Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in payments, fintech, e-commerce, or financial services, including at least 5 years in senior commercial/strategic roles in Japan.
- Demonstrated success in market expansion and business development
- Strong track record of partnership development with carriers, banks, regulators, and merchants.
3. Industry Knowledge:
- Deep understanding of Japan’s payment ecosystem (e.g. carrier billing from KDDI, SoftBank, Docomo, PayPay, RakutenPay, MerPay, D-Pay, AuPay, Atone, GMO etc) including consumer preferences, payment channels, and regulatory frameworks.
- Familiarity with global PSP models and cross-border merchant requirements.
4. Skills & Competencies:
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience in building and scaling teams.
- Excellent strategic planning, execution, and problem-solving abilities.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Fluent in Japanese (native level) and English proficiency preferred