Mission and Purpose

Casey is a 29-year Yazaki veteran. He has continuously been at the frontier of Yazaki’s business development activities having lead incubation efforts and created new business opportunities across Japan, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States. He is a seasoned leader of people, program manager and process creator that is well versed in the deep-rooted challenges in a very competitive automotive industry, but also have experience in the energy and construction sectors breaking through the conservative markets with a premium quality and high-priced commodity.

He holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of International Business Administration from Reitaku University, Kashiwa Chiba Japan.

Casey is a huge enthusiast of tennis and wine and the marriage of the two distinct aspect of competitive sport nature of tennis and artistic craftmanship and culture of wine.

Kazuo is an Associate at Yazaki, where he is responsible for deal search, sourcing, and due diligence. With 12+ years of experience in mobility and ADAS-related sensing electronics, Kazuo brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Prior to joining Yazaki, he was instrumental in investing in Mobility and Climate Tech startups at Asahi Kasei Corporate Venture Capital, where he honed his skills in corporate/startup synergy strategies and portfolio startup board observation, as well as acquiring innovation knowledge.

He holds a master’s degree in advanced semiconductor electronics from the National Electro-communication University in Japan. 

Bio: Leticia is an Associate responsible for deal sourcing at Yazaki. She has 10+ years of experience in her previous role as a Design Release Engineer where she was responsible for the continuous improvement of design for the Ford BU. She was the customer point of contact for technical issues. She supported change control meetings and supervised vehicle build and launches at customer pilot and assembly plants.

She graduated from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) with a degree in Electronics with a focus on Automation.

Jason is a Project Coordinator at Yazaki Innovations, where he focuses on connecting emerging technologies and innovative solutions to internal business challenges, with an emphasis on manufacturing, supply chain automation, and AI-driven initiatives. He also served as YII’s Engagement Champion from 2024 to 2025, fostering workplace engagement and strengthening communication across teams and leadership. In addition, Jason is a member of Yazaki’s Educational Advisory Council, where he supports colleagues pursuing higher education through the University of Arizona Global Campus.

Prior to joining Yazaki, Jason earned his Master’s degree in Management from the Cornell University Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Ithaca, New York. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences, where he majored in Asian Studies with minors in International Relations and Business. Jason has international academic experience through exchange programs at Keio University in Tokyo and Tsinghua University in Beijing, and is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Japanese.

Jeff has spent nearly 30 years at Yazaki, beginning his career as an engineer and transitioning into program management, where he has accumulated more than 25 years of experience. Throughout his career, he has led a wide range of programs spanning wiring harnesses, electronics, and switches, supporting customers including Stellantis, GM, Nissan, Freightliner, and International.  Through his extensive tenure, Jeff has developed deep institutional knowledge and firsthand insight into Yazaki’s internal challenges and operating environment. He leverages this experience to help translate innovation into measurable improvement across the enterprise.

At Yazaki Innovations – Strategic Partnerships Group (YII-SPG), Jeff and his team play a key role in connecting Yazaki’s most pressing business challenges with emerging technologies from the startup ecosystem. YII works closely with internal stakeholders to identify high-impact pain points, then scouts, evaluates, and partners with startups offering innovative solutions. Through structured proof-of-concept engagements, SPG validates technical performance and demonstrates clear return on investment before scaling solutions across the enterprise. SPG supports initiatives across YII’s core focus areas—supply chain, sustainability, manufacturing, vehicle systems, and next-generation energy—helping transform early-stage innovation into real-world, enterprise-ready outcomes.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Management, both from the University of Michigan. His academic background provides a strong technical foundation complemented by a strategic and managerial perspective, enabling him to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives throughout his career.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. As his children begin to move out and start their own paths, he is exploring new hobbies while continuing to enjoy reading and staying active—approaching sports with enthusiasm, if not always the same agility as years past.