PROFILE

Yuko Akiyama currently serves as Global Executive Brand Advisor at Sanrio Co., Ltd., where she previously held the role of Managing Executive Officer and Director overseeing global brand management. She led initiatives such as the Hello Kitty 50th anniversary campaign and the development of global character strategies. Since March 2024, she has also served as a Board Director of the Japan Professional Football League (J.League).

Prior to joining Sanrio, Akiyama spent over a decade at Google. She joined the company in 2011, contributing to brand campaigns for Google+ and Android, as well as disaster recovery initiatives in Tohoku. She later became Head of Device Marketing and subsequently Head of Google Nest Product Planning, APAC, where she was responsible for product strategy and business performance across the Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier in her career, she worked at Hakuhodo and Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo, focusing on advertising and communications strategy for domestic and international clients.