Kearney names senior partner Takefumi Harigaya as Managing Director for Japan

Global strategy and management consultancy Kearney has announced a change of leadership in its Japanese business, with Takefumi Harigaya taking over the reins from company veteran Shigeru Sekinada.

In his new role, Takefumi Harigaya (a senior partner) will lead Kearney’s Tokyo office, which is one of the firm’s largest in Asia. Prior to stepping up, he led the Communications, Media, and Technology (CMT) practice in Japan. Harigaya has over 20 years of consulting experience at Kearney, specializing in topics such as strategy, new business creation, business transformation, and mergers & acquisitions.

“I’m honored to step into this leadership role as we build on current momentum and drive the next stage of growth in Japan. I’m excited to lead our team as we partner with our clients to capitalize on emerging opportunities and strengthen their long-term competitiveness,” said Harigaya.

Sekinada meanwhile will transition to the role of Chairman for Japan. He will continue to serve as region chair for Asia Pacific, focusing on Kearney’s APAC strategy while supporting overall growth in the region. Across Asia Pacific, Kearney has consultants based out of 16 offices.

Commenting on the appointment, Sekinada stated: “Takefumi’s strong client relationships, passion for developing future leaders, and deep understanding of Kearney’s value of “essential rightness” position him well to drive Japan’s purpose and vision forward.”

In 2025, Kearney was named among the leading management consulting firms in Asia by both Consultancy.org and Vault. The consultancy has more than 5,700 people worldwide.