SPEAKER: AKIO MIYABAYASHI

Global Business Strategist

Akio Miyabayashi was a former CEO of Minolta Europe, responsible for the launch of Minolta Europe in 1965, and Minolta's own distribution network in the USA 1966, he became CEO Minolta Europe on 1975, and served as the CEO for 20 years. His clear understanding of the criteria and driving forces of global competitiveness enabled him to successfully develop the European Operations of this multi-national corporation from a staff of 17 in 1965 to 5,200 in 1995. His ability to understand the different cultures of the world and utilizing it for the successful growth, enabled Minolta to become a majorplayer in the European Market, with 44 companies and subsidiaries and 2 factories throughout Europe, including Eastern Europe and some parts of the former Soviet Union.

A charismatic speaker with the knowledge of different cultures (European, American and Japanese), Akio Miyabayashi has shared center stage with some of the world's prominent politicians and business leaders. His presentations leave the audience with a valuable insight into European and Asian developments in industry, management and society, and offer meaningful projections into the 21st Century.

Elected best Guest Speaker by the students of the Graduate School of Business Administration, Akio also lectures at Universities in Europe, and for the American Management Associations, conducting the Executive Leadership Program.

Apart from lectures and keynote speeches he is also courted panelist and can deliver his presentations and speeches in English, German or Japanese.

Lecturer and faculty member for American Management Association, Brussels, Guest Professor at Graduate School of Business Administration, Zurich, Switzerland, Business consultant for various Japanese companies (1999-Present)Started Minolta Europe in 1965 from scratch with 17 people to the level of more than 5,000 people in 44 companies (including 6 Eastern Europe and 2 in former Soviet Union), as well as 2 production factories and managed all these Minolta companies with profit. In Germany alone sales achieved over 1 billion German Marks in 1995, putting Minolta Germany on the list of top 500 biggest companies in Germany. Minolta Europe sent dividend to the Head Office every year during the 25 years (1970-1995).