Hideyuki (Hide) Hirama serves as Innovation Principal of the Chief Executive Innovation Office at Rakuten Group, Inc., responsible for new business creation, business development and group-wide business planning for the entire Rakuten Group.
Simultaneously, he also serves as Chief Operating Officer of telco industry disruptor Rakuten Symphony, where he is responsible for the company’s global business strategy, finance, human resources, sales and marketing.
Prior to joining Rakuten, Hirama was founder and chief executive officer of Gemseki, Inc., which provides investment banking services to life science industries globally. He also served as board member and executive officer of Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., taking the lead on strategy and corporate development. Hirama started his career with the Industrial Bank of Japan (currently Mizuho Financial Group).
Hirama earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor of Laws degree.