General Manager

LEADERSHIP ROLE

JAPAN & KOREA MARKET EXPANSION

General Manager, Japan & Korea

Warehouse Robotics | Intralogistics | Northeast Asia 0-to-1 Growth

Location: Japan or Korea preferred; China-based candidates with proven Japan/Korea market ownership may also be considered | Employment: Full-time |Function: Commercial Leadership / Business Development

The role covers both Japan and Korea, but we are not looking for an unrealistic “equal-depth” profile. The successful candidate should be genuinely strong in one primary market and have a credible plan to cover the second market through partners, local resources or prior regional experience.

About the Opportunity

Our client is a fast-growing warehouse robotics and intralogistics company with an established commercial base in China and an active international expansion agenda. The company provides robotic and automation solutions for warehouse storage, material movement and high-density logistics operations, supported by integrated system and software capabilities.

The General Manager, Japan & Korea will be responsible for building the company’s Northeast Asia commercial platform. This is a hands-on 0-to-1 role: identifying the right primary market, winning early customers, building local partner ecosystems, advancing complex automation projects and creating the foundation for future local teams.

A Practical Japan + Korea Model

This role does not require the successful candidate to have identical depth in both markets. We are looking for one of the following profiles:

• Japan-primary: strong Japanese customer / SI / trading-house / distributor relationships, business-level Japanese, and a credible Korea coverage model through partners, existing regional experience or future local hiring.
• Korea-primary: strong Korean customer / chaebol-SI / 3PL / local partner relationships, business-level Korean, and a credible Japan coverage model through trading houses, SIs, partners or future local hiring.

Business-level Japanese and Korean are not both required. The local business language of the primary market is the key requirement.

What You Will Own

• Assess Japan and Korea opportunities and define the practical primary-market and secondary-market strategy for the first phase of growth.
• Build direct relationships with end customers across logistics, e-commerce, retail, manufacturing, automotive, food / cold chain and other automation-intensive industries.
• Develop the right local ecosystem: trading houses, system integrators and distributors in Japan; local SIs, 3PLs, strategic partners and relevant enterprise ecosystems in Korea.
• Convert customer and partner relationships into qualified opportunities, proposals, proof-of-concepts, contracts and reference projects.
• Lead complex solution-selling cycles covering discovery, site assessment, solution design, ROI discussion, commercial negotiation and project handover.
• Act as a strong bridge between the local market and the China-based headquarters, translating customer expectations around quality, localization, software interfaces, service, delivery and project execution.
• Build the secondary market through a realistic combination of partners, local hires, existing relationships and regional coverage rather than attempting to personally own every account in both countries.
• As the business matures, help design and build the Japan / Korea sales, presales, project and service organization.

What We Are Looking For

• Approximately 8-15+ years of relevant experience in warehouse automation, intralogistics, warehouse robotics or closely related material-handling automation.
• Direct exposure to one or more of the following: AMR / AGV, autonomous forklift, warehouse robotics, pallet shuttle / 4-way shuttle, ASRS, material-handling automation or warehouse system integration.
• Clear ownership of either Japan or Korea as a primary commercial market, supported by real customers, partners, projects, revenue, bookings or local team responsibility.
• Business-level Japanese if Japan is the primary market, or business-level Korean if Korea is the primary market.
• Demonstrated ability to create new business from scratch: first customer, first distributor / SI, first POC, first reference or first local commercial model.
• Experience working with Chinese technology companies or China-based headquarters is highly desirable. Business-level Chinese is a strong advantage but is not a substitute for primary-market commercial evidence.
• Strong channel and ecosystem skills - particularly the ability to turn partners into active projects rather than simply signing agreements.
• Ability to manage complex B2B sales and stakeholder environments involving customers, partners, engineering, delivery and headquarters teams.
• A hands-on builder mindset and comfort operating in an early-stage regional setup.

Highly Relevant Talent Pools

• Commercial leaders from Chinese warehouse robotics / AMR / AGV / autonomous forklift companies operating in Japan or Korea
• Japan-based business leaders who have built local customers, SIs, trading-house and distributor networks for Chinese automation companies
• Korea-based commercial leaders with strong logistics, chaebol-SI, 3PL and smart-logistics networks and experience working with Chinese OEMs
• Partner-side leaders who have genuinely introduced or integrated Chinese warehouse robotics into local customer projects
• Direct-industry alumni with strong Japan or Korea market ownership and greater current mobility

What Success Could Look Like in the First 12 Months

• 0-3 months: determine the most practical primary market; complete target-customer and partner maps; identify product, delivery, localization and service gaps; establish the secondary-market coverage plan.
• 3-6 months: activate qualified local partners, build a visible pipeline, advance proposals / POCs and establish at least one credible route into the secondary market.
• 6-12 months: progress initial lighthouse opportunities toward contract or implementation; build early local references; define the next-stage Japan / Korea organization based on real market traction.

Why This Role

• A genuine founding leadership role for Northeast Asia rather than a mature-market maintenance position.
• Direct influence over which market to prioritize, how to build partners and how the local organization should evolve.
• A focused technology proposition in warehouse robotics and intralogistics with clear commercial applications.
• Competitive fixed and variable compensation; longer-term incentive can be discussed depending on seniority and scope.

Location & Travel

Japan or Korea base is preferred depending on the candidate’s primary market. China-based candidates may also be considered if they have proven Japan/Korea market ownership and can spend substantial time in-region. Regular travel across Northeast Asia will be required.

Confidential Search

This search is being managed confidentially by CGP Group. Candidate information will be handled with discretion and shared with the client only for the purpose of evaluating this opportunity.

Contact

Juliet Fan

Title

Executive Search Manager | Industrial & Overseas Expansion Practice, CGP Group

Email

[email protected]

Mobile

+86 139 1178 2143| WeChat / WhatsApp

LinkedIn search keywords: Japan & Korea GM | Northeast Asia Business Leader | Japan General Manager | Korea General Manager | Warehouse Robotics | Intralogistics | AMR | AGV | Autonomous Forklift | ASRS | Pallet Shuttle | Smart Logistics | System Integrator | Channel Development