Our Leadership

A collective of former executives, organizational psychologists, and management consultants dedicated to the rigorous discipline of human-centric transformation.

Led by Experience. Driven by Empathy.

At Eastgate, we believe that you cannot consult on transformation if you have never lived it. Our leadership team is intentionally composed of individuals who have held P&L responsibility, led global restructurings, and navigated the intense pressures of the boardroom.

We approach every engagement not as theoretical advisors, but as battle-tested peers. This duality—deep academic rigor paired with pragmatic corporate experience—allows us to build trust rapidly with C-suite executives and frontline managers alike.

"True leadership in change is the capacity to absorb anxiety and project clarity."
Kenjiro Tanaka

Kenjiro Tanaka

Managing Partner & Founder

With over two decades of experience spanning Tokyo, London, and New York, Kenjiro founded Eastgate to address a critical gap in the consulting market: the mechanical treatment of human organizations. Prior to founding Eastgate, Kenjiro served as the Chief Strategy Officer for a Fortune 500 manufacturing firm, where he spearheaded a global digital transformation that impacted 40,000 employees.

Holding a dual Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and Behavioral Economics from INSEAD, his work focuses on the intersection of executive decision-making and cognitive bias during periods of high systemic stress. He is a frequent speaker at the World Economic Forum on the topic of "The Psychological Cost of Agile Transitions."

Selected Expertise
  • C-Suite Alignment & Coaching
  • Post-Merger Cultural Integration
  • Enterprise Operating Model Design
  • Executive Resilience Training
Yumi Sato

Yumi Sato

Senior Partner, Strategy & Communications

Yumi brings a profound understanding of narrative architecture to the Eastgate team. She operates on the principle that without a compelling, transparent, and multi-directional communication strategy, even the most brilliant operational plan will fail.

Before joining Eastgate, Yumi was the Head of Global Communications for a leading multinational pharmaceutical company during a highly volatile M&A period. She orchestrated the communications for the integration of five distinct corporate cultures across Asia and Europe. Her methodology emphasizes "deep listening" and the creation of feedback loops that allow executives to monitor the psychological pulse of the organization in real-time.

Selected Expertise
  • Strategic Narrative Development
  • Crisis Management & Comms
  • Stakeholder Sentiment Analysis
  • Change Agent Network Design
Haruto Ito

Haruto Ito

Partner, Capability & Organizational Learning

Haruto bridges the gap between organizational strategy and individual capability. His core philosophy is that "change fatigue is often just learning fatigue." By reducing the cognitive load of transitioning to new systems and behaviors, he helps organizations accelerate adoption rates.

Haruto's background lies in advanced adult learning methodologies and UX design. He has designed capability-building frameworks for leading global tech firms, focusing on how middle managers can act as effective coaches rather than mere operational supervisors during periods of change. His frameworks are highly empirical, relying on data-driven adoption metrics to adjust training interventions dynamically.

Selected Expertise
  • Leadership Capability Frameworks
  • Manager-as-Coach Programs
  • Behavioral Adoption Metrics
  • Digital Upskilling Journeys

Global Advisory Board

Dr. Elena Rostova

Neuroleadership Expert

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience. Advises Eastgate on integrating neuroplasticity principles into our emotional processing frameworks, ensuring our methods are grounded in the latest brain science.

Marcus Chen

Former CHRO, Global Retail

Provides deep industry insights into managing change among highly distributed, deskless workforces. Expert in union negotiations and large-scale labor relations during restructuring.

Sarah Jenkins

Digital Ethics Consultant

Guides our approach to AI adoption and digital transformation, focusing on the ethical implications of automation and the psychological safety required for AI integration.

Join the Practice

We are always looking for exceptional thinkers who share our belief that transformation must be deeply human. If you have a background in consulting, organizational psychology, or executive leadership, we invite you to explore opportunities with Eastgate.

Explore Careers