Team
Paul Kraft
Founder, President at JapanIQ
Paul Kraft is a Japan-based market expert with more than 20 years of experience building, launching, and strengthening global brands in one of the world’s most challenging markets.
He has led end-to-end Japan strategies for iconic companies, including Starbucks, HARIBO, Nestlé Nespresso, and HoneyBaked Ham, delivering category-leading growth across FMCG, food service, retail, and e-commerce. As Japan Country Manager for HARIBO, he grew a $40M business, took a foreign brand to a #1 category SKU, secured first-ever distribution in 7-Eleven Japan, and earned “Brand of the Year” recognition.
Paul has also founded and scaled businesses from zero, launching HoneyBaked Ham’s first international market, reaching profitability within 13 months, and securing over $1.5M in local investment. Today, through JapanIQ, he works hands-on with international firms to avoid costly missteps, align the right partners, and turn Japan from a black box into a growth engine.
Kentaro Nakatani
Vice President at JapanIQ
Kentaro Nakatani, brings more than 20 years of experience across retail, marketing, and sales within both Japanese and global organizations. His career spans senior leadership roles at Starbucks, Coca-Cola, AEON, Daymon Worldwide, and most recently Godiva, where he led the strategic expansion and end-to-end sales execution of the company’s consumer packaged goods business in Japan.
Kentaro has held key positions shaping growth at scale, including serving as Marketing Director for AEON Topvalu, one of Japan’s most influential private-label brands, and as Head of Channel Planning for the food business at Coca-Cola Bottlers, where he helped drive recovery and growth through the Covid-19 period. He brings deep, hands-on expertise in Japanese retail strategy, private label development, and go-to-market execution.
At JapanIQ, Kentaro strengthens the firm’s ability to bridge global headquarters with the operational realities of Japan’s highly competitive retail environment, aligning stakeholders and translating strategy into measurable results.
Together, our leadership team offers clients a rare combination: the ability to educate and guide foreign firms entering Japan, while simultaneously influencing and aligning with Japanese retailers and partners at the highest level possible.
Plus our extended network of trusted freelancers and consultants
Get in Touch
We’d be happy to hear from you.
contact@japaniq.com