Discovery
President, Japan & Korea
General Manager, Japan
In close collaboration with APAC leadership, we were engaged to lead Discovery’s search for a new President of Japan & Korea. The company was seeking a visionary leader with a strong focus on innovation and transformation, someone capable of navigating the evolving content landscape. This executive would take on an existing multimillion-dollar P&L and drive the development of new revenue streams in one of Discovery’s most strategic markets.
The Challenge.
Discovery had a well-established presence in Japan, built on long-standing partnerships with key terrestrial broadcasters. However, as the media landscape rapidly evolved with the rise of emerging digital platforms, the company faced a critical inflection point. We were engaged to identify a visionary leader who could guide Discovery Japan into a new era of content distribution and monetization. Attracting talent with modern content expertise required repositioning Discovery’s brand in a competitive talent market. Our challenge was to craft and deliver a compelling narrative that showcased Discovery’s evolving vision, strengthened its employer value proposition, and inspired candidates to see their future in leading this transformation.
The Approach.
We executed a broad search that spanned traditional media, emerging content platforms, and innovation-driven tech companies. Our approach included in-depth talent mapping, frequent frontline recruiting insights, and ongoing advisory to support Discovery’s decision-making at every stage. Ultimately, we identified a rising executive who strongly aligned with Discovery’s vision and guided both client and candidate through a complex offer and resignation process to a successful outcome.
The Outcome.
What began as a search for a President of Japan evolved into something greater. The selected executive was quickly entrusted with a broader regional mandate, expanding their role to oversee South Korea as well. In response, Discovery re-engaged us to lead a follow-up search for a dedicated Japan General Manager. We successfully placed both leaders, whose combined tenure spanned eight years, demonstrating lasting value and stability in a dynamic media environment.