Natsuaki Sasaki　　　President

Started career in IBM as Product Line Management staff and moved to IBM Kingston labo in NY in 1981 as an engineer for the Network Server product development. After returning from the assignment, moved to IBM-Japan product development group as a manager of Communication Products in Yamato labo. Appointed as Director of Networking Systems Business Management in IBM Asia Pacific HQ from 1990. Became General Manager of Embedded Systems Business Unit in IBM Technology Group in 1994. After experiencing various executive position in Systems Technology Group, took a Sales VP position in IBM microelectronics division in 2004 and worked for Cell processor business development. Became IBM-J Director and VP Microelectronics Japan in 2007. At the end of 2008, retired from IBM and took the position of President of Ignite Japan as of January 2009.

Ryusaku Hoshino　　　Principal

Mr. Hoshino has worked for Investment Banking division of Lehman Brothers Tokyo office where he was a member of financial advisory group for Japanese corporate clients. After receiving an MBA from Columbia Business School, he joined Pangaea Wireless, a wireless communication start-up based in Palm Beach, Florida as an officer in charge of finance and overseas business development. He joined Ignite Japan in 2000 as one of the founding members, and has been involved with all aspects of IT2000 L.P. including the investment as well as administrative activities. He is also experienced in PIPEs field, forming Ignite BB L.P. in 2007, a special purpose fund to acquire a publicly traded stock, and managing it as the representative. In addition to the fund activities, he also provides financial advisory services to a selected number of Japanese clients for the cross-border M&A transactions. Mr. Hoshino has served as a board member of several companies (both privately held and publicly traded).

Naotaka Aoki　　　Principal

Entered IBM as a customer engineer staff . After experiencing various technical position in IBM-Japan, appointed as a Networking System products technical staff in AP Area Support Group HQ. In 1985, contributed to the launch of Rolm systems business in Japan as a key member of IBM-J Networking Systems Business Unit. Worked as a IBM-J representative of the corporate task for Rolm buy out by Siemens, then moved to IBM-Japan development group as a manager of Netowrking Products development. Joined a task of Mylex acquisition by IBM Storage Systems division and appointed as a manager of Networking Storage systems development in Yamato labo. Appointed as " IBM Distinguished Engineer " in 2000. Continued the position as a leader of Networking Systems development and technical support for networking business all across IBM-J business. In May 2007, retired from IBM and joined Ignite Japan as a Principal.

Sayaka Ashibe　　　Associate

Started career in IBM as a software engineer staff and mainly worked for server/storage product development. Since 2006, experienced Executive Assistant, Sales Representative for Strategic Alliance division and Marketing Management in Systems Technology Group in IBM.
After receiving an MBA with Distinction from MBA Programme at Human Academy Business School validated and awarded by the University of Wales, left IBM and joined Ignite Japan as an associate in 2009.