CMO/VP of Marketing - Japan

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a Regional CMO/Vice President of Marketing, Japan who is strategic, hands-on, and deeply experienced in scaling marketing functions to lead the full marketing agenda for one of Xsolla's most important markets. The best candidate will be someone who thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and exceptionally dynamic setting and is excited to set the Japan marketing vision, build the team and capabilities to execute it, and personally drive high-impact programs spanning brand, demand generation, industry events, content, and sales enablement.

Strong strategic and executional leadership, executive presence, and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with experience in B2B marketing leadership within technology, video games, platforms, or high-growth environments. The ability to navigate complex, matrixed stakeholder environments — from local Japan leadership to global HQ — while translating global strategy into locally effective, measurable execution will be key to your success in this role.

If you're passionate about shaping how a company is perceived and positioned within a critical market and love building marketing functions from the ground up while driving enterprise adoption and partner-led growth across Japan's gaming ecosystem, we would love to hear from you!

ABOUT US

Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.

For more information, visit xsolla.com.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and drive the Japan marketing strategy end-to-end — brand, demand generation, field marketing, content, customer marketing, developer marketing, and partner marketing — aligned with global priorities and Japan and regional objectives.
• Build, lead, and mentor the marketing team in Japan, establishing the structure, capabilities, and operating rhythms needed to scale marketing execution as the business grows.
• Build and operate the marketing budget, including planning, allocation, agency/vendor management, and performance measurement and reporting against clear ROI and pipeline metrics.
• Partner closely with the Japan Country Manager, GTM/BD leadership, Product Marketing, Comms, Events, and Global HQ marketing to deliver integrated programs that support enterprise adoption, partner growth, and revenue targets.
• Translate and localize global B2B narratives, product launches, and brand strategy into Japan-relevant campaigns, executive and customer events, customer proof points, and sales enablement materials.
• Serve as the senior Japan voice for marketing internally and externally — bringing market insight, customer and publisher perspective, and local nuance into regional and global leadership discussions, and influencing global strategy where Japan market dynamics diverge.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key Japanese publishers, developers, and industry bodies, elevating Xsolla's visibility and credibility across the Japan gaming ecosystem.
• Represent Xsolla at major global, regional and local video game development industry events and forums, and oversee Xsolla's presence, sponsorships, and thought leadership in the local market.
• Establish and continuously improve marketing operating rhythms in Japan — planning cycles, event execution, vendor/agency management, and reporting cadence with global and regional stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of marketing experience, including 7+ years in B2B marketing leadership roles, ideally within technology, video games, platforms, or high-growth environments.
• Proven track record building and leading a marketing function from the ground up, including team building, budget ownership, and cross-functional program delivery in Japan, regional or similarly complex markets.
• Strong understanding of enterprise buying dynamics in Japan and throughout Asia including the role of trust, regulation, partners, executive relationships, and local proof points.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and executional levels, comfortable setting vision while remaining hands-on in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Experience leading and influencing in a matrixed organization, working closely with Country/GTM leadership, BD, Partnerships, Product Marketing, Comms, Events, and global HQ marketing.
• Excellent communicator and executive presence, with business-level (or native-level) Japanese and native-level English proficiency, and strong stakeholder management and influence skills across Japan leadership, regional marketing, and global teams.
• Experience managing marketing budgets, agencies, vendors, major industry events, and field/demand generation programs at a country or regional level.
• Strong external network and credibility within the Japan gaming, technology, or platform industry.

Nice to Have

• Experience in video games, fintech, developer platforms, or other highly technical products.
• Familiarity with trust-sensitive enterprise environments and regulated industries.
• Prior experience as a CMO, VP Marketing, or country/regional marketing head with full P&L or budget accountability.
• Existing relationships with major Japanese game publishers, developers, or industry associations.