Kumi Sato

Independent Board Director

Kumi is President and CEO of Cosmo Public Relations Corporation, an innovative and award-winning strategic communications company that has built a leading presence in Japan’s healthcare industry. She is also an Independent Board Director of Poxel SA, a biopharmaceutical company based in France and a lecturer at BBT University, the graduate school of business founded by Kenichi Ohmae.

Long recognized as a vocal proponent of women in business, Kumi understands the challenges women face, demonstrating her passionate commitment toward the empowerment of women through speaking engagements, seminars, leadership training and more.

Devoted to developing bonds between Japan and the U.S., Kumi has been a longstanding member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). In recognition of her 27-plus years of service to the ACCJ, Kumi was appointed as the first Chairman Emeritus in January, 2015. Among her contributions to the Chamber, she was Governor (1997 – 2002, 2010), Chairman (2011, 2012), and Vice President (2003 – 2006, 2008-2009).

Kumi dedicates her time to several additional committees and advisory boards. In 2018, she was commissioned to be a Project Evaluation Panel member by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). She has been a member of the Global Council for the New York-based Asia Society since 2007, and previously co-chaired the council. Kumi is a current member of Wellesley College’s Business Leadership Council. Previously, she served as an Advisor for the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT).

In 2016, Kumi was named to the Holmes Report’s Asia-Pacific Innovator 25 list, and in 2012, she received the Harvard Business School Club of Japan’s “Business Stateswoman of the Year” award.

Kumi graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in East Asian Studies. Kumi is the author of two business books: Aisareru Kaisha no Joken [Love Me Company!] (2007) and Communication Leadership (2012).