Canon India’s president and CEO looks forward to an interesting interlude with Delhi’s multicultural set
It’s been more than four months since Kensaku Konishi arrived in India to take up his new assignment. He has spent this time in understanding the business, the people and the country. His new role as president and CEO of Canon India, as he says, has not only brought him new challenges, but also the opportunity of visiting the country at the best of its times. “One keeps on reading about India and the problems it faces. Coming here, one comes across lingering crises over basic requirements like water and power. But nothing is so serious (for me). The energy of the people and existence of varied cultures are enough to hold an outsider here without any major complaints,” he says.
A true Asian at heart, Konishi wholeheartedly accepts India as his next home. He is currently acquainting himself with desi cuisines, spicy sambars not withstanding. “Thanks to my international postings, I enjoy experimenting with different kinds of cuisines. As Delhi restaurants offer a range of the multinational food fare, including delicacies from country’s interiors, one can surely look forward to a lot of sumptuous meals.”
A golf-afficiando, Konishi has already checked out the verdant golfing grounds in the Capital, and has even won a couple of titles. On the golfing greens, he has been exchanging notes with others of his ilk, some of them from back home.
“The best aspect of Delhi is its cosmopolitan culture which never makes you feel like an outsider. Since I last checked, out of 2000 Japanese living in India, half are in Delhi. So, that’s another advantage of living here. Though I haven’t met too many of my countrymen here, I am definitely looking forward to it,” says Konishi, who now has some non-business plans to talk about.
The first is his wife’s arrival next month. “Things will definitely get better once she is here. We can then explore the country in the real sense,” says the corporate head. On the cards is visiting Agra, Jaipur and other weekend getaways, with trips to other beautiful locales like Kerala scheduled later.
Konishi is also doing a quick recce of the nightlife the city has to offer. “Next would be some musical shows, which I must say, are not that many in India. I prefer listening to western music, going to the opera, taking in a Broadway musical, maybe. Within Indian music, the melodious notes of the sitar enthrall me. So, here’s hoping that I have some delightful evenings,” he says.
Trying to settle down in a new country, Konishi today has a mix of observations on India. He sees each Indian as a potential customer, and his employee as a tool to reach each one of them. A marketing man, Konishi knows his product, target audience and the medium to reach them too well.
He has been with Canon for 29 years and that has taken him across geographies — Japan, Australia, the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong. But the India assignment is special. “I am glad to take up this assignment at a time when the India operations has just completed 10 years. It matters more to achieve success in an emerging market than doing well in a developed one. My agenda for the India office is to ensure that the people here get the global outlook and experience that can help the company they work for and the country they live in. Once Indians consolidate their efforts and get the much-needed international attitude, there is no stopping India from outperforming bigger markets like China,” he says.
Keeping quiet for the past four months in India has made Konishi estimate what others have not done. He is pleased that Indians are getting richer, as this widens his potential customer base.
However, he still finds it a challenge to sell his merchandise in a market where international brands—many from technology-strong nations like his own—keep venturing into. “Some companies enjoy the brand image, and thus many followers. But, one can safely say that the customer looks for a product that is innovative and completely out of the box. So the real competition lies in our thinking to produce better and different things,” he concludes.
It’s been more than four months since Kensaku Konishi arrived in India to take up his new assignment. He has spent this time in understanding the business, the people and the country. His new role as president and CEO of Canon India, as he says, has not only brought him new challenges, but also the opportunity of visiting the country at the best of its times. “One keeps on reading about India and the problems it faces. Coming here, one comes across lingering crises over basic requirements like water and power. But nothing is so serious (for me). The energy of the people and existence of varied cultures are enough to hold an outsider here without any major complaints,” he says.
A true Asian at heart, Konishi wholeheartedly accepts India as his next home. He is currently acquainting himself with desi cuisines, spicy sambars not withstanding. “Thanks to my international postings, I enjoy experimenting with different kinds of cuisines. As Delhi restaurants offer a range of the multinational food fare, including delicacies from country’s interiors, one can surely look forward to a lot of sumptuous meals.”
A golf-afficiando, Konishi has already checked out the verdant golfing grounds in the Capital, and has even won a couple of titles. On the golfing greens, he has been exchanging notes with others of his ilk, some of them from back home.
“The best aspect of Delhi is its cosmopolitan culture which never makes you feel like an outsider. Since I last checked, out of 2000 Japanese living in India, half are in Delhi. So, that’s another advantage of living here. Though I haven’t met too many of my countrymen here, I am definitely looking forward to it,” says Konishi, who now has some non-business plans to talk about.
The first is his wife’s arrival next month. “Things will definitely get better once she is here. We can then explore the country in the real sense,” says the corporate head. On the cards is visiting Agra, Jaipur and other weekend getaways, with trips to other beautiful locales like Kerala scheduled later.
Konishi is also doing a quick recce of the nightlife the city has to offer. “Next would be some musical shows, which I must say, are not that many in India. I prefer listening to western music, going to the opera, taking in a Broadway musical, maybe. Within Indian music, the melodious notes of the sitar enthrall me. So, here’s hoping that I have some delightful evenings,” he says.
Trying to settle down in a new country, Konishi today has a mix of observations on India. He sees each Indian as a potential customer, and his employee as a tool to reach each one of them. A marketing man, Konishi knows his product, target audience and the medium to reach them too well.
He has been with Canon for 29 years and that has taken him across geographies — Japan, Australia, the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong. But the India assignment is special. “I am glad to take up this assignment at a time when the India operations has just completed 10 years. It matters more to achieve success in an emerging market than doing well in a developed one. My agenda for the India office is to ensure that the people here get the global outlook and experience that can help the company they work for and the country they live in. Once Indians consolidate their efforts and get the much-needed international attitude, there is no stopping India from outperforming bigger markets like China,” he says.
Keeping quiet for the past four months in India has made Konishi estimate what others have not done. He is pleased that Indians are getting richer, as this widens his potential customer base.
However, he still finds it a challenge to sell his merchandise in a market where international brands—many from technology-strong nations like his own—keep venturing into. “Some companies enjoy the brand image, and thus many followers. But, one can safely say that the customer looks for a product that is innovative and completely out of the box. So the real competition lies in our thinking to produce better and different things,” he concludes.