6 years with ASICS

After 6 years looking after the digital activities of Japanese sportswear brand ASICS (first in Europe, and since 2011 at global headquarters), I found it was now time for me to explore new activities.

But before I’m fully ready to move on, I’d like to take a quick look back.

I am immensely proud of my team’s laser focus on runners, and in particular of the MY ASICS running training plans service, but also of the various communication initiatives that are rooted in how people actually practice their sport and engage with it when hanging out online. Launching e-commerce was a painful experience, and the resulting sites aren’t quite what I originally had in mind, but they’re nonetheless a major step forward in digitalizing the company and its relationship with consumers. On a personal side, I’ll miss the daily interactions with the awesome people at Shibuya office, and the sometimes tough but always nourishing guidance of peers and managers.

The past 6 years were a blast, and I am thankful to consumers, colleagues and partners for teaching me so much.

In particular, I’d like to bow deeply to the runners on the Get Satisfaction support forum for MY ASICS. They’ve stuck with us through the launch of the new platform early 2011, and provided valuable feedback at every turn. And every once in a while, there’s a heart-warming story that makes it all worth it.

So, what’s next?

It’s been over a month I’ve left the office, and I’ve already been working with friends and acquaintances on various projects. (One of them was a fairly successful political campaign which couldn’t quite conceal very poor national results.) I’ve also been in talks with several companies in Europe, Japan and the US to join their operations but nothing has yet resolved itself in a binding contract for full-time employment.

One big step last week: it’s been confirmed I’ll be staying in Tokyo for at least another couple of months, while working on new opportunities. (Thanks for the support — you know who you are!)

Stay tuned!

This entry was posted in Commentary, Ongoing. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.