Taro Fukumoto is ACAMS’ country senior manager for business development in Japan. After starting his career as an advertisement designer, Tokyo-based Fukumoto moved to marketing before spending the last more than 17 years in sales. He joined ACAMS in 2019 as a senior business development manager and advanced to his current position in 2020. In addition to overseeing ACAMS’ sales endeavors in Japan, Fukumoto also supports the coordination of The Assembly Japan and local webinars, working on invitations to speakers, attending the preparation conference calls and building the agenda. Moreover, he supports the marketing and promotion of the event and often assists with reviewing translated content for the events into Japanese.

ACAMS Today (AT): What drew you to work for ACAMS?

ACAMS is a globally recognized and trusted brand that holds great significance for our local members

Taro Fukumoto (TF): In addition to being a mission-driven organization, I felt a strong market demand for ACAMS’ expertise and saw a clear need to expand our reach. I was also drawn by the many ways I could leverage my experience to help achieve these goals.

AT: Could you describe what a typical workday entails for you at ACAMS?

TF: A typical day begins with reviewing my schedule, checking sales statuses and emails and going over my task list. Afterward, I meet with my colleague Satsuki Kakihana to discuss the follow-up actions for various promotions, coordinate client outreach and set priorities. I also have meetings with subject matter experts (SMEs) to prepare webinars, gather promotional materials for them and coordinate with the marketing team. In addition, I prepare and track the progress for the monthly ACAMS Japan Chapter Board meetings. Although most meetings are virtual and I usually work from the office or home, I enjoy the occasional in-person meetings as well.

AT: What aspect of working on the ACAMS Sales team do you most enjoy?

TF: ACAMS is a globally recognized and trusted brand that holds great significance for our local members. I enjoy working with my overseas colleagues to engage local clients while aligning with ACAMS’ expanding global presence.

AT: Is there a sales project you have been involved in at ACAMS of which you are particularly proud?

TF: To increase enterprise contracts, I focused on expanding local communication across various channels and significantly broadened our network with local SMEs. With the support of a change in the pricing structure, the number of companies with enterprise contracts has grown fivefold over the past five years. This shows how much of a gap there was between the demand from the market and what we had supplied previously. I believe this gap has not been completely filled, and we are still at the exciting stage of exploring the market more deeply and widely.

AT: You have been involved in coordinating The Assembly Japan (formerly the ACAMS Japan Conference) for several years now. What components of the event do you find especially rewarding for yourself and the attendees?

TF: Although survey results aren’t always perfect, I’m especially pleased when we receive positive feedback and comments noting improvements from past events. The ACAMS Assembly is positioned and valued as a global event, and every year, the audience and speakers have updated their focus and interests. In the past few years, it seems the overall program agenda has aligned with those. Of course, when new sales leads arise from the event, it is rewarding and I’m eager to follow up on those as well. To me, it is also a rewarding experience every year to work across different teams with fantastic colleagues to prepare for and achieve a successful event and then celebrate the result afterward.

AT: How has ACAMS’ presence in Japan evolved since you joined four years ago?

TF: I’m proud to say that our network of industry professionals who support our mission has expanded significantly, along with an increase in membership and revenue. Significantly, new industries such as crypto or money services businesses, as well as designated nonfinancial businesses and professions, are slowly increasing their interests. While this is largely due to the strengthening of our global brand and presence, I believe it’s crucial to set local strategies to maximize the positive impact of these global efforts. As another example, fraud prevention is an urgent matter requiring collaboration between public and private sectors across industries, which is fully aligned with global trends. However, for ACAMS to contribute to this movement, it is imperative to quickly overcome language barriers.

AT: What do you like to do in your spare time?

TF: I enjoy spending time with my pet rabbit, feeding it different dried vegetables or fruits and finding its most favorite one of the season. I also enjoy traveling with family a few times a year, while at other times driving by myself to visit shrines in the region, with carpool karaoke along the way. I especially enjoy long drives, which give me space for thinking. I find them entirely refreshing.

Interviewed by: ACAMS Today editorial, ACAMS, editor@acams.org