Chief Human Resources Officer Japan · Global perspective
Naoki Sato
Building the leadership, culture and capability to thrive.
People strategy must explain how the organisation will build the capability its ambitions require.
Open to Board appointments · Advisory roles · Speaking invitations
Start a conversation
- Senior roles filled internally
- 85%
- Through a rebuilt succession pipeline
- Engagement improvement
- +31 pts
- During a three-year transformation
- Colleagues served
- 52,000
- In 30 countries
- Women in leadership
- 40%
- Up from 18% in five years
A career in chapters.
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2020 — Present
Chief Human Resources Officer
Aldermoor Group
Leading enterprise people strategy, executive succession and organisation capability. Working with the CEO and board on the leadership, culture and workforce choices behind business priorities.
2016 — 2020
Vice President, Talent & Organisation
Fairhaven Holdings
Built talent and organisation programmes with operating leaders, connecting development activity to business capability. Developed practical experience in role design, leadership assessment and change delivery.
2012 — 2017
Global Head of Talent
Meridian Consolidated
Designed the leadership pipeline that produced the group's next three business-unit presidents.
2006 — 2012
HR Business Partner, Operations
Calder Logistics
Partnered frontline leaders through a network redesign, and learned that culture is what happens on the night shift.
A broader perspective.
Leadership succession / Organisation design / People strategy / Culture transformation
Explore areas of practice ↗The leadership record
Trusted with consequential decisions.
Recognition
- CHRO of the YearThe People Leaders Awards · 2024
- Best Workplace TransformationThe Boardroom Review · 2022
In conversation
- “Building a succession bench the board can trust”The People Leaders Journal · 2025
- “What remuneration committees miss about culture”The Boardroom Review · 2024
- “Episode 117 — Culture on the night shift”The Leadership Ledger podcast · 2023
Formation
- MA, Organisational PsychologyKingsgate University · 2003
- MBA, Strategy & FinanceWestbrook School of Management · 2004
- Certified Executive CoachThe Coaching Standards Council · 2016
Our succession conversations became evidence-based and calm. That is a gift to any board.
An invitation
The most consequential work begins with a conversation.
For board, advisory and leadership conversations where leadership succession matters.
- Board appointments
- Advisory roles
- Speaking invitations
office@naokisato.example