New Balance Promotes Referral Hiring to Create a Unified Organization Using 'MyTalent Platform' for AI-Native Recruitment
TalentX announced that New Balance is using its referral hiring service 'MyRefer' within the 'MyTalent Platform' to foster a unified, employee-led organization centered on core values. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of an AI-native integrated platform.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 13:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 7, 2026 at 00:55 (83h 33m after Collected)
TalentX Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & CEO: Takashi Suzuki; Securities Code: 330A; hereinafter 'TalentX') announced that New Balance Japan Inc. (hereinafter 'New Balance'), which uses the referral hiring service 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)' within the integrated talent acquisition platform 'MyTalent Platform', is undertaking an initiative to create a unified organization led by associates (employees) through referral hiring centered on core values.
■ Background of the Initiative
For New Balance, a global sports brand, hiring associates (employees) to support store operations is a critically important theme. Amidst the increasing difficulty of hiring in recent years, the company is strengthening referral hiring to maximize contact with high-quality talent that cannot be sufficiently reached through recruitment agencies alone, thereby enhancing its own recruitment capabilities.
The company has positioned three core values shared by all employees ('INTEGRITY', 'TEAM WORK', and 'TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION') as the axis of its referral hiring. By welcoming new members who resonate with these values through referrals from employees who deeply understand the company culture, they are promoting strategic talent acquisition that minimizes cultural gaps after joining and improves retention rates.
■ Results and Outlook
The company is utilizing 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)' to permeate its unique core values and accelerate referral activities. By naming the referral program 'NB Friends' and rolling it out company-wide with a friendly brand image, they have created an environment where employees naturally accept it.
In stores, they effectively use analog touchpoints such as postings in break rooms and offices, as well as news distribution within the app, to lower the hurdle for employees to take the 'first step' in making referrals. By establishing referral hiring not as a special measure but as a 'normal habit', they aim to foster a proactive culture where each employee works to further improve the company.
Interviewee: Yoshiaki Murakami, Executive Officer, Director of Human Resources & General Affairs Department
Interview Article: https://mytalent.jp/lab/case_newbalance-jp/
■ About the AI-Native Integrated Talent Acquisition Platform 'MyTalent Platform' / 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)'
'MyTalent Platform' is Japan's first AI-native integrated talent acquisition platform. To break away from traditional 'throwaway' recruitment dependent on external services, it integrates all functions including talent pool, branding, referrals, and candidate management on a foundation of recruitment CRM that converts candidate data into management assets. By functioning AI not merely as an efficiency tool but as a core engine for designing the candidate experience (CX), it provides an all-in-one solution for sustainable talent acquisition.
Furthermore, 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)' within this platform is Japan's No.1 market share (*) referral hiring service that brings employees and recruitment closer through employee referrals. It offers functions to support the entire process of referral hiring, from program design and operational establishment to internal branding. Equipped with AI-powered automation features, it reduces the workload of HR personnel while increasing the engagement of each employee and promoting their 'fan-ization', thereby building an autonomous referral hiring system.
(*: Based on the number of introducing companies in Yano Research Institute's 'Reality and Outlook of the Referral Hiring and Alumni Hiring Support Service Market (2025)')
(Service site: https://mytalent.jp)
■ About TalentX Inc.
TalentX Inc. operates the integrated talent acquisition platform 'MyTalent Platform' that realizes AI-native recruitment. Through Japan's first recruitment CRM, recruitment branding, referral hiring, alumni hiring, and candidate management, it provides all-in-one support for corporate talent acquisition. Beyond technology, it also offers strategic RPO services for designing and supporting recruitment strategies, and a professional freelance HR service 'Sugoi Jinji' (Amazing HR), providing strategic HR execution support. By combining technology, strategy, and execution support, the company aims to realize a society that maximizes the potential of people and organizations.
[Company Overview]
Company Name: TalentX Inc. (Securities Code: 330A)
Location: Kagurazaka Plaza Building G Floor, 4-8 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Representative: Takashi Suzuki, Representative Director, President & CEO
Established: May 28, 2018
Company HP: https://talentx.co.jp
'MyTalent Platform' Service HP: https://mytalent.jp/
■ Background of the Initiative
For New Balance, a global sports brand, hiring associates (employees) to support store operations is a critically important theme. Amidst the increasing difficulty of hiring in recent years, the company is strengthening referral hiring to maximize contact with high-quality talent that cannot be sufficiently reached through recruitment agencies alone, thereby enhancing its own recruitment capabilities.
The company has positioned three core values shared by all employees ('INTEGRITY', 'TEAM WORK', and 'TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION') as the axis of its referral hiring. By welcoming new members who resonate with these values through referrals from employees who deeply understand the company culture, they are promoting strategic talent acquisition that minimizes cultural gaps after joining and improves retention rates.
■ Results and Outlook
The company is utilizing 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)' to permeate its unique core values and accelerate referral activities. By naming the referral program 'NB Friends' and rolling it out company-wide with a friendly brand image, they have created an environment where employees naturally accept it.
In stores, they effectively use analog touchpoints such as postings in break rooms and offices, as well as news distribution within the app, to lower the hurdle for employees to take the 'first step' in making referrals. By establishing referral hiring not as a special measure but as a 'normal habit', they aim to foster a proactive culture where each employee works to further improve the company.
Interviewee: Yoshiaki Murakami, Executive Officer, Director of Human Resources & General Affairs Department
Interview Article: https://mytalent.jp/lab/case_newbalance-jp/
■ About the AI-Native Integrated Talent Acquisition Platform 'MyTalent Platform' / 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)'
'MyTalent Platform' is Japan's first AI-native integrated talent acquisition platform. To break away from traditional 'throwaway' recruitment dependent on external services, it integrates all functions including talent pool, branding, referrals, and candidate management on a foundation of recruitment CRM that converts candidate data into management assets. By functioning AI not merely as an efficiency tool but as a core engine for designing the candidate experience (CX), it provides an all-in-one solution for sustainable talent acquisition.
Furthermore, 'MyRefer (MyTalent Refer)' within this platform is Japan's No.1 market share (*) referral hiring service that brings employees and recruitment closer through employee referrals. It offers functions to support the entire process of referral hiring, from program design and operational establishment to internal branding. Equipped with AI-powered automation features, it reduces the workload of HR personnel while increasing the engagement of each employee and promoting their 'fan-ization', thereby building an autonomous referral hiring system.
(*: Based on the number of introducing companies in Yano Research Institute's 'Reality and Outlook of the Referral Hiring and Alumni Hiring Support Service Market (2025)')
(Service site: https://mytalent.jp)
■ About TalentX Inc.
TalentX Inc. operates the integrated talent acquisition platform 'MyTalent Platform' that realizes AI-native recruitment. Through Japan's first recruitment CRM, recruitment branding, referral hiring, alumni hiring, and candidate management, it provides all-in-one support for corporate talent acquisition. Beyond technology, it also offers strategic RPO services for designing and supporting recruitment strategies, and a professional freelance HR service 'Sugoi Jinji' (Amazing HR), providing strategic HR execution support. By combining technology, strategy, and execution support, the company aims to realize a society that maximizes the potential of people and organizations.
[Company Overview]
Company Name: TalentX Inc. (Securities Code: 330A)
Location: Kagurazaka Plaza Building G Floor, 4-8 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Representative: Takashi Suzuki, Representative Director, President & CEO
Established: May 28, 2018
Company HP: https://talentx.co.jp
'MyTalent Platform' Service HP: https://mytalent.jp/
FAQ
Why did New Balance strengthen its referral hiring?
To maximize contact with high-quality talent not reachable through agencies and enhance its own recruitment capabilities amid increasing hiring difficulty.
What is the name of New Balance's referral program?
It is called 'NB Friends'.
What kind of service is 'MyRefer'?
It is Japan's No.1 market share referral hiring service that supports everything from program design and operational establishment to internal branding.