Shunsuke Sako (above left) will take over from Masato Yamamoto (above right) as CEO of Mercari’s flagship Marketplace division in Japan on March 1.
Sako joined Mercari as a VP in November 2021 and was appointed VP of its cross-border unit in June 2023. He became GM cross border in July 2024.
Sako joined Mercari from Unison Capital, Inc. as a management advisor. Before that, he was CEO of Minit Asia Pacific Co. Ltd. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2008, he worked for Mitsubishi Corporation.
“As vice president and CEO Marketplace, he will aim to create value in a global marketplace where anyone can buy and sell, and drive the growth of Marketplace’s business,” according to the company’s announcement.
Yamamoto will become senior vice president of Japan region and director of fintech services Merpay and Mercoin.
“Yamamoto … will focus on his role as head of Mercari Group’s Japan businesses to further strengthen the creation of group synergy between each of the businesses deployed in Japan,” Mercari stated.
Having joined the company in 2018, Yamamoto became CEO Marketplace in November 2023. During his tenure, Mercari launched pay-per-click display advertising, an auction service, automated car trading and a service for buying listed items from users.
“Under this new management structure, Mercari Group will continue to strive to achieve its mission: Circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people.”
Mercari Marketplace accounted for almost 60% of Mercari Group’s revenue during the three months to December 2024.
