Episode 62

full
Published on:

15th Jan 2025

The Nuances of Effective Marketing in Japan, with Ricardo Tasca

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:

2025 Salary Guide

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 for the FocusCore podcast! 

This week we are joined by yet another amazing guest at the forefront of marketing and business leadership in Japan, Ricardo Tasca. Ricardo is currently the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill’s Colgate (Japan). Ricardo has years of experience leading marketing innovation and success in Japan, Brazil, Mexico and New York. In this episode Ricardo shares some unique experiences of being a leader in the pet care industry in Japan, as well as discussing global trends and innovations in marketing and brand management happening now and in the future.

In this episode you will hear:

  • What makes the Japan market unique
  • What Ricardo sees as emerging trends in the Japanese consumer market
  • How the pet care industry is evolving in Japan and globally
  • The importance of sustainability to Hill’s Pet Nutrition Japan
  • How investing in R&D helps brands innovate and be competitive in the market




Things mentioned in the episode:

Hill’s Food, Shelter, & Love Program: https://www.hillspet.com/food-shelter-love/my-shelter



About Ricardo:

Ricardo Tasca is the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill’s Colgate (Japan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill's Pet Nutrition and Colgate-Palmolive Company. He has held that position since January 1st, 2022. 

Prior to that, Ricardo served for three years as the Marketing Director of Hill's Colgate (JAPAN) Ltd. 

From 2016 to 2018, Ricardo served as Associate Director of the Global Marketing and Innovation Team for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. 

Ricardo joined Colgate Palmolive in his native Brazil in 2003 as Assistant Brand Manager. He progressed through positions in Marketing and Retail Marketing, becoming Group Brand Manager for Colgate Toothpaste in 2009. 

In 2010, Ricardo moved to Colgate Palmolive Mexico, to lead the Latin America Innovation for Mouthwashes and Sensitive Toothpaste. In 2012, moved to Colgate Headquarters in New York as the Marketing Manager of the Global Toothbrushes business, leading global strategy & innovation for key segments of the category. 

Ricardo holds a degree in Business administration from the FAAP University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 



Connect with Ricardo:

Website: https://www.hillspet.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-tasca-11914418/


Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ 

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ 


“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

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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

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David Sweet