Leo Keeley
Minato-ku,Tokyo
Summary
Leo is one of the more well-known figures in Japan's IT industry, with more than a 25-year track record building and running successful Japanese businesses for leading US firms such as Dun & Bradstreet, Computer Associates and Ariba. Since founding Japan B2B Sales, he has helped dozens of overseas-based companies avoid the usual barriers to success in Asia-Pacific’s only G7 market (i.e., failure to grasp the size of the opportunity, revolving door of unqualified country managers, and the dreaded joint venture) by building solid businesses in Japan for them. Leo is a popular speaker with various business groups and is a frequent guest on Japanese TV news programs.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
President & CEO
Japan B2B Sales
2005 - Current
- Japan B2B Sales works with overseas-based IT solutions providers to ratchet up their Japan presence by providing traction and visibility. Simply put, we roll up our sleeves and help convince major Japanese companies to issue that elusive Purchase Order. Leo has served as country manager, on an outsourced basis, for: Apttus (Conga), DEKRA SE, Extensity, Extricity, Kana Communications, KEMA NV, MatrixOne, Peregrine Systems, RightNow Technologies, Riverbed Technology, Slam Dunk Networks, Witness Systems, WRQ, Xirrus Systems and several other firms.
- Other clients have included Computer Associates, Dassault Systemes, Hewlett-Packard, PeopleSoft, Red Hat, and Symantec. He has produced excellent results for many of the industry's leading firms.
Vice President, Asia-Pacific & Japan
Ariba
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Built and managed a thriving, strategic accounts-centric business covering Japan, Greater China, Korea, ASEAN, and Australia - eventually growing revenue to over $200M.
- Recruited and managed high-performing teams in each of these unique cultures, supporting a diverse customer base. Extricated the firm from an acrimonious JV in Japan.
President & CEO
Japan InfoTech
01.2000 - 01.2003
- A predecessor firm to Japan B2B Sales, Japan Leadership built successful business in Japan for over a dozen US-based IT companies.
President
Platinum Technology Japan
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Tripled revenue through organic growth and the strategic acquisition of a Japanese services firm. Managed teams in Tokyo and Osaka.
Various Roles
Dun & Bradstreet
01.1984 - 01.1997
- Joined the firm as a Support Consultant (Boston)
- Promoted to Support Manager (Tokyo)
- Promoted to Director of Services (Tokyo)
- Promoted to President, D&B Software Japan (Tokyo). ARR: $3M to $12M
- Promoted to President & CEO, D&B Technology Asia (Tokyo). ARR: $12M to $21M
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Bentley University
Waltham, MAMaster of Business Administration - MBA - Finance
Suffolk University
Boston, MAContinuing Education - Graduate School of Business and Finance
Waseda University
TokyoSkills
- Fluent in English and Japanese
- Organizational leadership
- Revenue Generation
- Leadership Team Building
- Channels Management
- Strategic Planning
- Operational Excellence
- Analytical Forecasting
Selected Articles
- Why Isn't Your Japan Country Manager Working Out? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-isnt-your-japan-country-manager-working-out-leo-keeley/
- Is Your Firm Going to Succeed in Japan? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-firm-going-succeed-japan-leo-keeley/
- Failing at Scaling in Japan https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/failing-scaling-japan-leo-keeley-v4gdc/?trackingId=Zae%2Fi4ylSKupQ3ZrUHTswQ%3D%3D
Timeline
Vice President, Asia-Pacific & Japan
Ariba
01.2002 - 01.2005
President & CEO
Japan InfoTech
01.2000 - 01.2003
President
Platinum Technology Japan
01.1997 - 01.2000
Various Roles
Dun & Bradstreet
01.1984 - 01.1997
President & CEO
Japan B2B Sales
2005 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Bentley University
Master of Business Administration - MBA - Finance
Suffolk University
Continuing Education - Graduate School of Business and Finance
Waseda University
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