Episode 6

full
Published on:

18th Apr 2022

Recruitment ‘Hacks’ with Andrew Hankinson of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Japan

This week on the podcast we are doing something different. I wanted to share with you an interview I did with Andrew Hankinson from the first podcast that I ever recorded. 

Developing operations in Japan to be efficient and profitable can be a challenge when you run six top brands, over 30 retail shops, and a factory of the German company, Zwilling J.A. Henckels. For over 30 years, Andrew has been a true leader in Japan, a sales guru, and a business leader. He is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional business people I've had the honor to know. 

In this episode you will hear:

  • How Andrew worked his way back to the Land of the Rising Sun after studying in Japan in high school
  • The importance of hiring people who really know how to sell
  • Why it’s so important to really study resumes, and interview questions Andrew likes to ask when recruiting
  • What quality good recruiters need to have and Andrew’s own recruitment ‘hack’
  • Why Andrew would choose lunch with his grandparents over Columbus and Aristotle
  • The book Andrew recommends for every business professional

About Andrew: 

Andrew Hankinson is Senior Managing Director at ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Japan Ltd. Andrew has 27 years of professional experience in Business Development, Sales Training, and P/L Management. He has 17 years of managerial-level leadership skills as Director of Sales & Marketing, General Manager, and Managing Director. Andrew has a proven track record of surpassing target expectations, motivating both team-based management styles and start-up ventures, and managing budgets / forecasting. He has excellent bilingual (Japanese – English) communication skills honed through 20 plus years of sales / business presentations, negotiations, and public speaking, to Fortune 500 firms, industry conventions, and team building. Andrew has also had managerial experience in business alliance development, service/product rationalization, corporate/event planning, and Japan new market entry.

Connect with Andrew: 

Website: zwilling.jp

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-hankinson-09b89

Podcast: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Links of things mentioned in this episode:

The First 90 Days book by Michael D Watkins

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focuscore/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia


Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide

Show artwork for The FocusCore Podcast

About the Podcast

The FocusCore Podcast
Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business.
We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country.
The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.

About your host

Profile picture for David  Sweet

David Sweet