Etienne Castel Email & Phone Number

Greater Tokyo Area

Responsible for APAC and Oceania business development strategy at Taphandles LLC, a leader in bespoke marketing tools and dispense equipment for breweries and beverage makers.- Drive regional growth by collaborating with breweries and beverage companies of all sizes across APAC.- Provide tailored support for clients looking to increase brand recognition and beer sales with custom-designed tap handles, draft towers/fonts and dispense equipment.- Oversee projects from design and prototyping to manufacturing and delivery.- Localize marketing materials and content to meet market-specific needs, including translating online resources and sales materials into Japanese and French.ブルワリーや飲料メーカー向けに、タップハンドルやドラフトビールタワーをはじめとする特注マーケティングツールおよびディスペンス機器を設計・製造するリーディングカンパニー、Taphandles LLCのAPACおよびオセアニア地域におけるビジネス開発戦略を担当しています。生ビール提供の現場での認知度向上や販売促進を目指し、革新的なマーケティングのパイオニアを目指すブルワリーからのご依頼をお待ちしております。

Tokyo, Japan

I offer tailored consulting and support for business development, international expansion, and cross-cultural communication:- For International Companies: Facilitate market entry into APAC and Oceania regions with services including market research, partnership building, and localization strategies.- For Japanese Companies – Overseas Expansion: Help businesses enter global markets by adapting content and communication for international audiences, including websites, presentations, brochures, and marketing materials.- For Japanese Companies – Inbound Content: Create English and French content for foreign tourists and professionals in Japan, leveraging deep knowledge of U.S., European, and Japanese cultures to provide precise translation, cultural adaptation, and impactful user-focused materials.

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Drove business development and market expansion for GLOBIS Unlimited, an e-learning SaaS platform, in the EMEA region.- Strategy & Expansion: Contributed to defining business strategy and spearheaded EMEA market growth, designing tailored Learning & Development solutions for clients.- Client Engagement: Delivered webinars in English and Japanese to promote the company’s digital services and engage prospective clients.- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Worked with product development and content teams to integrate user feedback and ensure market alignment.

Tokyo, Japan

Built and managed international operations for live-service RPG games, driving global growth and operational efficiency.- International Expansion: Established the company’s international localization/LQA, customer support, and talent acquisition teams.- Team Leadership: Managed a global team of 20 game planners and localizers across 8 languages for Game-as-a-Service (GaaS) titles.- Revenue Growth: Increased international revenue share from 0% to 20%, peaking at 60% for the F2P GaaS title "Queen’s Blade Limit Break".- Player Support: Enhanced customer support operations, achieving a 90%+ user satisfaction rate and reducing response times by 25%.- Localization: Localized the company's most successful international title as lead translator for both English and French.- Marketing: Created English-language marketing content, translated Japanese ad copy.

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Key driver of Taphandles' expansion in EMEA, establishing a strong presence and leading significant business growth for the global leader in custom tap handles and draft solutions.- European Office Launch: Supported the launch of the European office and established regional operations.- Sales Growth: Designed and implemented a business development strategy for EMEA, driving a 633% increase in regional sales and achieving a 1503% growth in personal portfolio sales within two years.- Product Development: Led full-cycle product development for new offerings, ensuring alignment with client needs and overseeing design, prototyping, production, and delivery.- Client Relations: Served as the primary point of contact for beverage producers across EMEA, fostering long-term partnerships through on-site visits, trade shows, and festivals.- Team Building: Contributed to hiring, onboarding, and training two account managers, expanding the regional team.- Process Improvement: Collaborated cross-functionally to define new processes and streamline global operations.

Seattle, Washington, United States

Pioneered the development of Taphandles’ EMEA market, demonstrating the scalability of the company’s business model internationally.- Built a market presence from scratch, identifying business opportunities and developing tailored strategies for EMEA clients.- Adapted company processes to meet the demands of international markets, laying the groundwork for the launch of the European office.

Tokyo, Japan

Served as a key liaison between a Japanese aircraft parts manufacturer and international partners, driving production efficiency and supplier engagement.- Production Planning: Managed production schedules under tight deadlines, both remotely and on-site at the Utsunomiya facility.- Supplier Development: Identified and qualified new suppliers in Japan and overseas to enhance supply chain capabilities.- Business Expansion: Established new international partnerships in the USA and Taiwan to support growth initiatives.- Coordination and Translation: Facilitated communication between head office, suppliers, and customers, providing translation (English/French/Japanese) to ensure smooth collaboration.

Tokyo, Japan

Advised companies on exporting to Japan through consulting, market insights, and event coordination, working within a 100% Japanese team at the French Embassy.- Business Services Sales: Prospected and qualified French companies to sell consulting services, including B2B meeting organization and trade show participation in Japan.- Market Research: Wrote and sold market reports tailored to clients’ needs, leveraging multilingual research and interviews with Japanese companies and the Japan offices of global organizations.- Event Planning: Led two business missions in sports marketing and event planning for Tokyo Olympics stakeholders, coordinating with French and Japanese partners and hosting Embassy receptions.- Official Representation: Represented the French Embassy at trade fairs, product launches, and ceremonial events.

Paris, Île-De-France, France

Supported public affairs initiatives for a leading global industrial company, focusing on stakeholder engagement and sustainable energy advocacy.- Prepared briefing notes and supporting documents for Public Affairs Manager ahead of meetings with European and French Parliament members.- Organized a hydrogen fuel-cell event at the Paris Motor Show, securing 30+ attendees, including MPs, association leaders, and scientists, within a tight 10-day deadline.- Engaged with associations and NPOs to develop partnerships promoting sustainable energy systems.- Authored a 50+ page report analyzing lobbying and decision-making processes in Japan, a key market for the company.

Tokyo, Japan

Provided trade intelligence and business development support in the IT and video games industries, operating under the French Embassy in Tokyo.- Researched and curated IT and video game market updates for French companies targeting Japan.- Authored a report on Japan’s enterprise software market, leveraging industry research and local business insights; sold to French clients.- Supported local team with proofreading and Japanese-to-French translations.

Master Of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Economics, Public Policy, Tax Law, Management, Finance

Certificate Of Completion - Academic Exchange Year In Japan Studies (Aikom Program)

Main courses: Japanese, Japanese History, Japanese Culture, International Relations

Bachelor, Political Science

Main courses: Constitutional Law, Economics, History, Japanese Politics, International Relations

Baccalauréat (National High School Diploma), Literature & Philosophy, "Mention Très Bien" (Summa Cum Laude)

With Highest Honors