Director, Supermarket, Drugstore, Discounter Channel - AEON Group

Director, Supermarket, Drugstore, Discounter Channel - AEON Group is responsible for leading the end-to-end commercial strategy, system alignment, and profitable growth agenda for system business with AEON Group, one of Japan's largest retail groups.

As a nationally scaled, multi-format retailer (GMS, Supermarket, Drugstore, Discounter, CVS), AEON group business impacts for the entire Japan system business. This role owns the integrated customer strategy across all categories, drives joint value creation with AEON senior leadership, and ensures full system alignment across bottling partners to deliver sustainable topline growth and strong system economics.

The role acts as the key point of connection as commercial leader for AEON group within the Coca-Cola system, integrating RGMX, Shopper Marketing, Commercial Finance, and Category Strategy into one coherent customer business growth plan.

Scope of Responsibility

• Market: Japan

• Customer: AEON group (national scope across all operating companies and formats)

• Categories: All categories

• Coverage: Customer P/L, Joint Business Planning (JBP), RGMx deployment, Portfolio & Innovation commercialization, Shopper strategy integration, Franchise alignment, System investment governance

• Stakeholders:

• AEON Group senior commercial leadership

• OU commercial & marketing functions

• Commercial leaders at CCBJI and independent bottlers

• Global commercial community (as relevant)

• Develop mid- and short-term customer growth strategy aligned with AEON's corporate direction and retail transformation agenda.

• Lead annual and mid-term Joint Business Planning integrating:

• Portfolio strategy

• Category growth drivers

• Innovation pipeline

• RGMX levers

• Build a jointly winning model focused on increasing shopper incidence, basket size, and value creation for both parties.

• Own end-to-end system P/L for AEON across all bottlers.

• Drive profitable topline growth while managing trade investment and promotional intensity.

• Ensure disciplined RGMX deployment (price-pack architecture, promo optimization, mix improvement).

• Translate strategy into differentiated execution across AEON's various retail formats.

• Ensure occasion-based marketing and shopper programs are tailored by format.

• Drive innovation listings and distribution expansion across national and regional entities.

• Lead alignment across multiple bottling partners to ensure:

• Unified national negotiation strategy

• Consistent execution standards

• Coordinated investment governance

• Act as system expert and escalation point for AEON-related decisions.

• Build trusted partnerships with AEON's senior executives.

• Lead complex national negotiations (annual terms, investment frameworks, major initiatives).

• Position Coca-Cola as a strategic thought partner in category development and digital innovation.

• Track performance vs BP and LRP targets.

• Identify risks and course-correct via pricing, mix, distribution, or activation levers.

• Provide strategic updates and recommendations to the Senior Director and OU LT.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required.

• 10+ years of progressive commercial leadership experience in FMCG/CPG.

• Proven experience managing large national retail chains in Japan.

• Strong expertise in Joint Business Planning and RGM application.

• Deep understanding of Japanese retail economics and bottler franchise systems.

• Strong financial acumen and negotiation capability.

• Business-level fluency in English and Japanese required.

• Strategic system thinker with strong execution bias

• Highly credible negotiator at senior executive level

• Strong financial and commercial acumen

• Skilled at influencing within complex matrix organizations

• Able to align multiple stakeholders toward common growth outcomes