Recruit Group is celebrating its 65th anniversary. What challenges do its leaders face, what are their visions, and what future are they striving to create? We spoke with Recruit Holdings Director, Executive Vice President and COO Ayano “Sena” Senaha to find out.

Recruit Holdings Director, Executive Vice President and COO Ayano “Sena” Senaha

How Should We Use Recruit’s Influence?

Over the past decade, Recruit Group has undergone rapid globalization. Indeed has become the number one job site in terms of the number of users worldwide^*1, and the overseas sales ratio for the entire Group has exceeded half. The new three-point strategies of Recruit Group announced in 2021 under the new management structure ー Simplify Hiring, Help Businesses Work Smarter, and Prosper Together — are also being integrated with a strong global perspective, together with our colleagues at Recruit Group around the world.

As we have grown as a company and our influence on society has risen, the question we have faced is, “How should we use our influence?” I don’t think it matters which company is number one on the planet when you look at it on a cosmic scale. What is important is how high we can raise society with that influence.

Especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic from 2020, the number of people who lost their jobs or were unable to work increased rapidly all over the world. The labor market changed significantly as well, which made us think about the meaning and value of the HR matching we do as a business. Innovation cannot happen without strength. However, there is no sustainability unless you are a company that is beloved as well as strong.

What to Change — and What to Leave Alone — to Remain a Challenger

With the advent of AI technology, society is now at a monumental turning point. Startups worldwide have the potential to rapidly expand by leveraging AI. What kind of influence will Recruit Group continue to exert?

As demographics, technology and the way people work all change, the services we provide will change as well. However, I believe that our vision to “Follow Your Heart” — which foresees a world in which individuals and businesses can focus on what really matters — will remain the same. To achieve this, we must always be bold challengers who take on new risks, learn from our mistakes, and continue to move forward. So, how can we continue to be challengers?

For the 65 years since its founding, Recruit Group has valued the concept “Bet on Passion.” If someone raises their voice and says, “This is definitely better for the world, and the way we’re doing things now is wrong,” we listen to them, show interest, and provide them with opportunities regardless of their role or title.

That’s because we believe in their potential. And to enable individuals in any role to raise their voices, we disclose our vision and real-world issues clearly and unequivocally. We have a history of sincerely believing in the idea that “everyone is a protagonist” and putting it into practice without being constrained by things like age, gender or position.

I believe that Recruit Group’s edge lies in this unbroken continuity of activity, to constantly achieve innovation and sustainability, that must never change.

How can we preserve this advantage in our own organization, where more than 50,000 colleagues work in over 60 countries around the world, and business practices and cultures are diverse and widespread? The answers may not be easy to find.

Now that we've reached our 65th anniversary, I'd like everyone in Recruit Group to seriously confront this question. I sincerely hope that we can link the past to the future by doing so.

Ayano “Sena” Senaha

Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.

Ayano "Sena" Senaha is Director, Executive Vice President in charge of Corporate Communications Division, Human Resources / General Affairs Division, Risk Management Division, Group Governance in the Corporate Planning Division and COO. She has played a major role in the rapid globalization of the Company, leading and contributing to a series of post-merger integrations.

Six years after joining the Company, she was transferred to a newly acquired staffing company in London in 2012. She skillfully turned around its financial performance after being appointed Managing Director in 2014. She became Chief of Staff at Indeed, Senior Vice President in 2018, and Director in 2020. She is credited with aiding the development of a corporate governance structure that neutralizes risks while enabling quick decision-making.