SkillUp NeXt Appoints Yuko Tanaka as Outside Director to Strengthen Management Structure
SkillUp NeXt is strengthening its management structure by appointing Ms. Yuko Tanaka as an Outside Director, effective May 1, 2026. Ms. Tanaka brings extensive experience from listed companies and will contribute to the company's growth and enhanced corporate governance in promoting AI social implementation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 21:28 (9h 56m after Collected)
SkillUp NeXt Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shinichi Tahara; hereinafter “the Company”) announces that Ms. Yuko Tanaka has been appointed as an Outside Director, effective May 1, 2026. Ms. Tanaka has led business growth at multiple listed companies and possesses extensive experience in corporate planning and strategy formulation for listed companies. Her appointment aims to further strengthen corporate governance, improve the precision of management strategies during the business expansion phase, and accelerate the Company's growth.
Background of Appointment
The Company operates with the mission of “Promoting human and organizational transformation and supporting corporate evolution,” driving the social implementation of AI.
Currently, while 76% of Japanese companies have adopted AI, only 10% feel they have achieved results exceeding expectations (※). The Company focuses on the underlying “technology, talent, and organization” barriers, providing end-to-end support from development to talent development and retention, enabling self-sustaining operations in the field.
To further deliver the Company's solutions to more companies and elevate Japan's industrial competitiveness, we have welcomed Ms. Yuko Tanaka, who has experience leading business expansion at multiple listed companies, as an Outside Director. We expect Ms. Tanaka to provide diverse insights from an independent standpoint for formulating management strategies during the business expansion phase and establishing an organizational foundation that supports sustainable growth. Her participation will further accelerate the strengthening of our management structure towards achieving our mission and business growth, contributing to social evolution through continuous value creation.
※Source: PwC “Generative AI Actual Condition Survey 2025 Spring”
Profile of Ms. Yuko Tanaka
After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, she joined Toyota Motor Corporation, where she was involved in new car market introductions, supply-demand planning, and sales strategy formulation. She then gained experience in corporate planning and business development at Jupiter Shop Channel Co., Ltd., before joining A.T. Kearney Co., Ltd. She led projects for major corporations, including overall strategy, new business development, and organizational restructuring, and served as Manager of the Consumer Goods and Retail Practice from July 2011.
In 2014, she joined CrowdWorks Inc., which was founded two and a half years prior. As an Executive Officer, she contributed to its listing on the Mothers section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (at the time). From the end of 2019, she served as Director, Head of Corporate Planning, overseeing corporate planning, public relations, investor relations, and M&A. She became independent in 2023.
Currently, while serving as an Outside Director for Space Market, Inc., ServerWorks Co., Ltd., and Batonz Co., Ltd., she also works as a management advisor, primarily for startups.
Comment from Ms. Tanaka
I have been appointed as an Outside Director of SkillUp NeXt Co., Ltd.
Amidst many companies struggling with the outcomes of AI adoption, I was deeply impressed by the Company's stance of addressing “technology, talent, and organization” as a trinity and providing end-to-end support for on-site retention. I will leverage my experience in corporate planning and strategy formulation acquired at listed companies to contribute to strategic planning for further business expansion and the establishment of an organizational foundation that supports sustainable growth. From an objective perspective as an Outside Director, I am committed to accelerating the Company's mission of “human and organizational transformation” and contributing to the improvement of Japan's industrial competitiveness.
About SkillUp NeXt
SkillUp NeXt Co., Ltd. is an AI solutions company that realizes corporate transformation through the “implementation” of cutting-edge technologies, including AI agents, their “retention” within the organization, and the “development” of skills to utilize them. We have supported over 1,000 companies and local governments to date.
With the mission of “Promoting human and organizational transformation and supporting corporate evolution,” in addition to our AI/DX business, we are expanding our operations into next-generation fields such as GX (Green Transformation) and quantum technologies.
[Company Overview]
Established: 2018
Representative Director: Shinichi Tahara
Location: 2-40-5 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
URL: https://skillup-next.co.jp/
Business Activities:
・AI/DX Business (AI development/implementation, talent development/organizational development, retention/operation support)
・GX Business (strategy formulation, talent development, GX certification planning/operation)
・Quantum Business (quantum computing related services, etc.)
Keywords:
Background of Appointment
The Company operates with the mission of “Promoting human and organizational transformation and supporting corporate evolution,” driving the social implementation of AI.
Currently, while 76% of Japanese companies have adopted AI, only 10% feel they have achieved results exceeding expectations (※). The Company focuses on the underlying “technology, talent, and organization” barriers, providing end-to-end support from development to talent development and retention, enabling self-sustaining operations in the field.
To further deliver the Company's solutions to more companies and elevate Japan's industrial competitiveness, we have welcomed Ms. Yuko Tanaka, who has experience leading business expansion at multiple listed companies, as an Outside Director. We expect Ms. Tanaka to provide diverse insights from an independent standpoint for formulating management strategies during the business expansion phase and establishing an organizational foundation that supports sustainable growth. Her participation will further accelerate the strengthening of our management structure towards achieving our mission and business growth, contributing to social evolution through continuous value creation.
※Source: PwC “Generative AI Actual Condition Survey 2025 Spring”
Profile of Ms. Yuko Tanaka
After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, she joined Toyota Motor Corporation, where she was involved in new car market introductions, supply-demand planning, and sales strategy formulation. She then gained experience in corporate planning and business development at Jupiter Shop Channel Co., Ltd., before joining A.T. Kearney Co., Ltd. She led projects for major corporations, including overall strategy, new business development, and organizational restructuring, and served as Manager of the Consumer Goods and Retail Practice from July 2011.
In 2014, she joined CrowdWorks Inc., which was founded two and a half years prior. As an Executive Officer, she contributed to its listing on the Mothers section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (at the time). From the end of 2019, she served as Director, Head of Corporate Planning, overseeing corporate planning, public relations, investor relations, and M&A. She became independent in 2023.
Currently, while serving as an Outside Director for Space Market, Inc., ServerWorks Co., Ltd., and Batonz Co., Ltd., she also works as a management advisor, primarily for startups.
Comment from Ms. Tanaka
I have been appointed as an Outside Director of SkillUp NeXt Co., Ltd.
Amidst many companies struggling with the outcomes of AI adoption, I was deeply impressed by the Company's stance of addressing “technology, talent, and organization” as a trinity and providing end-to-end support for on-site retention. I will leverage my experience in corporate planning and strategy formulation acquired at listed companies to contribute to strategic planning for further business expansion and the establishment of an organizational foundation that supports sustainable growth. From an objective perspective as an Outside Director, I am committed to accelerating the Company's mission of “human and organizational transformation” and contributing to the improvement of Japan's industrial competitiveness.
About SkillUp NeXt
SkillUp NeXt Co., Ltd. is an AI solutions company that realizes corporate transformation through the “implementation” of cutting-edge technologies, including AI agents, their “retention” within the organization, and the “development” of skills to utilize them. We have supported over 1,000 companies and local governments to date.
With the mission of “Promoting human and organizational transformation and supporting corporate evolution,” in addition to our AI/DX business, we are expanding our operations into next-generation fields such as GX (Green Transformation) and quantum technologies.
[Company Overview]
Established: 2018
Representative Director: Shinichi Tahara
Location: 2-40-5 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051
URL: https://skillup-next.co.jp/
Business Activities:
・AI/DX Business (AI development/implementation, talent development/organizational development, retention/operation support)
・GX Business (strategy formulation, talent development, GX certification planning/operation)
・Quantum Business (quantum computing related services, etc.)
Keywords: