Salesforce.com attempts to expand its operations in Japan

Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM), the world’s #1 CRM platform, today announced it is expanding its Japan leadership team with the appointment of former HP Japan head Shinichi Koide as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its Japan operations. Koide will be responsible for growing salesforce.com Japan into a $1 billion business with more than 2,000 employees. Hitoshi Kawahara, Senior Vice President and head of enterprise sales at salesforce.com Japan, will step up to a new role as President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Kawahara will lead the company’s enterprise sales and distribution teams and oversee business operations. Eiji Uda, who has led growth for salesforce.com Japan for the last 10 years as President and Chief Executive Officer, will continue to serve the company as Executive Advisor and play a key role with strategic alliances and global accounts in Japan.