News
TYPICA Appoints Four Executive Officers, Establishing Management Structure to Support Three Representative Directors in Various Areas
Four newly appointed executive officers, all drawing on unique expertise and practical experience, join the representative directors of TYPICA to lead the company’s operations and growth.
TYPICA, a global venture promoting sustainability of high-quality coffee, has appointed four executive officers, effective November 23, 2023. The four officers are: a Technology Officer to drive the rapid evolution of the company’s products; a Social Impact Officer to maximize social impact; an Operating Officer to promote business planning and organizational implementation; and an Administrative Officer to manage the strengthening of the administrative division. The four administrative officers, each having extensive experience in their respective fields, will support management of the company under the direction of the three representative directors.
TYPICA is the world’s first online, global, direct trade coffee platform. By making it possible to trade green coffee beans in units of a single jute bag (approx. 60 kg), which were previously traded in containers (approx. 18 t), TYPICA provides an opportunity for small- and medium-scale producers who had difficulty exporting on their own to sell their green coffee beans to roasters around the world.
As the purchase price of coffee is determined by the futures market, about half of small- and medium-scale coffee producers, who account for about 70% of the approximately 20 million coffee growers worldwide, still live in poverty. TYPICA’s platform is revolutionizing the coffee industry by democratizing direct trade and enabling pricing that is not dependent on the futures market, thereby improving the incomes of small producers.
■ Background of appointment
In the four years since its beginning, TYPICA’s network of producers and roasters has expanded to 71 countries and regions, and direct trade has been achieved across 55 countries and regions.
In order to further accelerate growth on a global scale, TYPICA has transitioned to a three-person directive management structure consisting of a CEO, CQO (Chief Quality Officer), and CFO as of November 1, 2023. Under the direction of these three directors, the four newly appointed executive officers will contribute to the further enhancement of corporate value while supporting overall management by drawing on their practical experience in their respective fields.
■ Technology Officer Kosuke Arisawa
Background:
Kosuke Arisawa started his career as an engineer while on a leave from university and started his job at DeNA Inc. in 2007. He was involved in the launch of the open platform business and the genetic analysis business and in October 2016, joined RAKSUL Corporation where he developed the infrastructure system and greatly improved the user experience. Later, he promoted the launch of the enterprise business and contributed to the growth of the business as director of the development team. In 2023, he joined TYPICA, where he is engaged in the development of new models.
Commnets on his appointment:
I have over 20 years of experience in web engineering, with a particular focus on the development and operation of platform systems. My first encounter with TYPICA was a turning point for me. Listening to the stories of coffee growers and roasters who are involved with TYPICA has broadened my perspective and given me a new awareness of what I can do for coffee lovers. We hope our platform will bring a little happiness to coffee lovers every day. We are excited to utilize technology and provide a place for people to deepen their connection. We sincerely hope that our efforts will have a peaceful and positive impact on the world of coffee.
■Social Impact Officer Shizuka Funayama
Background:
After graduating from Waseda University, Shizuka Funayama worked for a trading company specializing in ODA and was stationed in Nigeria for about a year for duties at an overseas diplomatic mission. She then joined an international NGO providing humanitarian assistance after completing a master’s degree at Oxford University in the UK. She gained experience in business management and business composition, and during her 18-month stay in Kenya, she served as the local director and office manager of a refugee assistance project worth 100 million yen a year, funded by the United Nations and other sources. She then became a freelancer and participated in the application and management of government-funded projects for several startups, while expanding her duties to include public relations, marketing, and research support. She joined TYPICA in 2023 and has been involved in research in the ESG field, as well as planning and management of grant projects and corporate strategy.
Commnets on her appointment:
The world of international cooperation, where I have spent my career, seems to be generally viewed as incompatible with the economic activities of the private sector. However, the global social issues symbolized by the SDGs cannot be solved without the commitment of corporations. I see potential to overcome this disconnect in TYPICA’s pursuit of a business model that enables companies to consistently achieve economic growth and social impact. In order to create a future where it is commonplace for companies to improve society through their business activities, as one of the executive officers, I will work harder than ever to make TYPICA a role model for companies in the new era, while also making a positive impact as an individual, both within and outside the company.
■Operating Officer Takehiro Yasui
Background:
After graduating from Ritsumeikan University, Takehiro Yasui joined Euglena Co. As manager of OEM business, he was involved in product launches for major pharmaceutical companies and health food manufacturers, and contributed to the rapid growth around the time of the stock listing on the stock exchange, both in terms of sales and profits. He has also achieved numerous collaborations with food and beverage manufacturers, leading to a big hit of Euglena as a material through joint projects with retailers. In 2019, he was transferred to a major general trading company and was engaged in development of products for consumers. In 2022, he worked as General Manager of the Corporate Planning Department of the Healthcare Company. In 2023, he joined TYPICA, where he is responsible for the global planning strategy and operations.
Commnets on his appointment:
I have long been interested in creating a system to make the world a better place. I am convinced that TYPICA will truly change the structure of coffee trading, brighten the lives of people involved, and improve the future of a cup of coffee. I would like to be a hero in TYPICA, but first, I would like to create an environment and structure where each member of TYPICA becomes a hero/heroine themselves and succeed as a team. I already have in mind that if the members of TYPICA, who have unique character and strong passions and are very honest, can perform their best, we can achieve some incredible things. I would like to create more and more moments to share joy and high-fives with our team members.
■Administrative Officer Akiyo Azuma
Background:
After graduating from Kyoto Institute of Technology’s Department of Design and Management Engineering in 2010, Akiyo Azuma worked for 10 years in accounting and sales at a wholesale company located in Osaka City’s Eastern Central Wholesale Market, while volunteering her time to provide emotional education for children and to manage a music school with 5 locations. While considering a career change, she empathized with the CEO Goto’s attitude of always aiming higher, and joined the management as a founding member of TYPICA in 2019. She has been concurrently responsible for the overall back office and trading and logistics operations, and has contributed to TYPICA’s growth and global expansion. Currently, she is engaged in building the administrative department for the company’s NASDAQ listing.
Commnets on her appointment:
We see the future that TYPICA is aiming for as a breakthrough that will change the norm for the industry and thereby the future of producers, roasters, and all those involved. We are always excited when we imagine the future, and we are motivated to devote ourselves to it even more. I would like to work with the management team and all of our employees around the world to create a system that will allow us to think about what kind of innovative things TYPICA can do, without taking anything for granted. I know there are many things I am still inexperienced in, but I would like to work as one team to constantly learn and improve, and strive to create the future. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to meeting new people who will join us in the future.
■New Management Structure
The new management structure is as follows:
Masashi Goto, Co-Representative Director CEO
Ayane Yamada, Co-Representative Director CQO
Shintaro Asako, Co-Representative Director CFO
Executive Officer Akiyo Azuma
Executive Officer Kosuke Arisawa
Executive Officer Shizuka Funayama
Executive Officer Takehiro Yasui
Under the new management structure, TYPICA will continue to take on further challenges to achieve its mission of democratizing direct trading. We will also focus on creating a management system that enables autonomous development of local subsidiaries in each country and region (Japan, the Netherlands, Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S.) and training of branch representatives.