Hulu alum Kazuo Takaya to head Nippon TV’s new Global Strategy division

KazuoTakaya (left) and Satoru Hiramatsu

Japanese media company Nippon TV has launched a Global Strategy division to drive long-term international growth, to be led by former Hulu Japan president Kazuo Takaya.

As president of Global Strategy, Takaya will oversee expansion initiatives across IP development, technology, strategic partnerships and region-specific market strategies.

The new division will work with Nippon’s Content Business arm, with emphasis on scaling Gyokuro Studio, the company’s unscripted production brand. It will also help expand the global reach of AiDi, Nippon’s AI-powered unit.

At Hulu, Takaya spearheaded business development and product innovation.

The launch of the Global Strategy unit aligns with Nippon’s ambition to increase its presence in the international market. Last October, company executives told delegates at the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market that it intended to increase international revenues by five times over the next eight years.

Takaya said: “Global business is becoming an increasingly important driver of Nippon TV’s future growth. Leveraging our strengths as a global content company, we aim to explore and drive business opportunities worldwide across a diverse range of areas and initiatives.

“With Gyokuro Studio, we have launched a powerful creative brand that can deliver fresh unscripted formats and ideas to partners around the world such as Majority Rules. With AiDi, we have the opportunity to combine Nippon TV’s production expertise with advanced technology to create new value for the global media and entertainment industry, already proven by its use in major international sports events.

“I look forward to working closely with partners across the globe to further strengthen the industry.”

Meanwhile, Satoru Hiramatsu has been promoted to exec VP of Content Business, having previously served as MD of the division. He will continue to oversee the global content sales and promotion team, which represents formats such as drama Mother and unscripted hit Old Enough!.

He will report to Tadafumi Shimomura, president of Content Business.

Hiramatsu said: “Nippon TV’s core strength lies in our expansive library of high-quality content, driven by the exceptional creativity of our in-house creators.

“In this new role, I look forward to further strengthening our global sales and promotional efforts to maximise the reach of our content.”