Ken Wakasa is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Mercari, where he oversees the company's technological advancements and strategic initiatives. With a rich background in software development at companies like Google and Apple, Wakasa brings a wealth of experience to his role. His leadership is pivotal in driving Mercari's vision of becoming a global tech giant.
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Who is the CTO of Mercari?
Ken Wakasa, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Mercari, has a distinguished career in the tech industry. Wakasa's professional journey includes significant roles at Sun Microsystems, Sony, Google, and Apple, where he contributed to the development of Google Maps and the Android OS. He also played a pivotal role in developing the LINE messaging client. Joining Mercari in 2019, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the CTO of Mercari Japan in 2021 and later the Group CTO in 2023.
Wakasa's leadership is characterized by his focus on enhancing the developer experience, promoting diversity and inclusion, and driving technological innovation to support Mercari's global growth.
Work History
- Fujitsu - Researcher (April 1998 to October 2000)
- Sun Microsystems - Software Engineer (November 2000 to January 2003)
- Sony - Software Engineer (February 2003 to March 2007)
- Google - Staff Software Engineer (April 2007 to January 2015)
- LINE Corp - Lead Software Engineer (February 2015 to August 2015)
- Apple - Staff Systems Software Engineer (September 2015 to January 2017)
- LINE Corp - Engineering Director (February 2017 to July 2019)
- Mercari, Inc. - Director of Client Engineering (August 2019 to June 2020)
- Mercari, Inc. - VP of Product Engineering (July 2020 to June 2021)
- Mercari, Inc. - VP, CTO Marketplace (July 2021 to May 2023)
- Mercari, Inc. - VP, Group CTO (June 2023 to March 2024)
- Zinnov - Advisor (March 2024 to August 2024)
- booost technologies, Inc. - Technical Advisor (January 2024 to present)
- Ginco Inc - Technical Advisor (February 2024 to present)
- Sagri Co., Ltd - Technical Advisor (April 2024 to present)
- Tech Japan Inc. - Technical Advisor (May 2024 to present)
- Career Break - Health and well-being (April 2024 to present)
- Sakurabunsha LLC - CEO / Technical Advisor (November 2023 to present)
- MACROMILL, INC. - Technical Advisor (December 2023 to present)
- Mercari India - Managing Director (June 2022 to February 2024)
Education History
Ken Wakasa's educational journey is rooted in his time at The University of Tokyo, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Information and Communication Engineering from 1992 to 1996. Following this, he pursued a Master of Engineering (ME) in Computer Science, which he completed between 1996 and 1998. This strong academic foundation in engineering and computer science has been instrumental in shaping his successful career in the tech industry.
When did Ken Wakasa join Mercari?
Ken Wakasa joined Mercari in August 2019 as the Director of Client Engineering. He quickly advanced within the company, becoming the VP of Product Engineering in July 2020, and later the VP, CTO Marketplace in July 2021. By June 2023, Wakasa was appointed as the Group CTO of Mercari. Over his tenure, he has played a crucial role in enhancing the developer experience and promoting technological innovation. As of now, Wakasa has been with Mercari for over four years, contributing significantly to its growth and development.