Vol.18 – Driving Corporate Growth from London: A Recruiter’s Journey Abroad
After 6 years at our parent company in Japan, Kota Matsuoka was seconded to Centre People in London, bringing his expertise in recruitment and quickly growing as a leader within the company. In this Meet the Team article, we spoke with him about his life in the UK and his experience as a recruiter.
How did you come to work at Centre People Appointments in the UK?
“I was sent from our parent company in Japan, Quick, through our internal overseas assignment programme. I actually applied every year for six years to be sent to an overseas office, and I was finally chosen to move to the UK in 2024. While I was at university, I joined an exchange programme to the US, so I always knew that I wanted to live abroad to improve my English and meet new people.”
How did you feel when you found you were going to be moving to the UK?
“I was extremely excited. I love learning about new cultures and meeting people from different backgrounds, and I knew that moving to Europe would allow me to meet a wide variety of people. It’s been nearly two years now, but I still feel excited every time I go out in London.”
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
“I love travelling, and I think the UK is the best base. I can visit other European countries over the weekend, and I have already travelled to many countries. At the same time, I love beer and football, which the UK is perfect for. I watch Premier League matches and also play football with local people. It’s a great way to learn about local culture and make new friends.”
What’s the biggest difference between Japanese and European recruitment?
“In the UK and Europe, each individual hire is very important and personal to the company. Many large, well-known Japanese companies have smaller branches here, so I can support not only hiring but also the management team and their hiring strategy. I work directly with CEOs and Managing Directors to discuss their operations and recommend suitable candidates. It feels much more like a true partnership with clients, as we are closely involved in their hiring processes.”
As you’re starting a new position leading the finance unit, what do you hope to achieve in this role?
“My goal is to make everyone involved happy, and I genuinely mean that. I want the finance team to provide more detailed information and a more convenient, responsive service to our clients. We are meeting with as many candidates as possible and deepening our knowledge of the industry, so that we can provide more accurate and detailed insights to clients.”
“I was very happy and excited to be asked to lead the unit. It comes with challenges, but it’s a completely new experience for me, which makes it very exciting. London is a global financial centre, so I’m looking forward to meeting world-class specialists and learning from them.”
Finally, what is your motivation as a recruiter?
“Personally, I love gaining new knowledge and experiences. By becoming a better recruiter, I can give better advice and more meaningful consultations, and I can meet more people to discuss more complex and specific topics. This is my core motivation – I want to keep learning.”
“Especially in the UK and Europe, I feel that I can support Japanese companies to grow, which is very rewarding. I love Japan, so I’m happy when I can contribute to the growth of Japanese companies, and I’m also very happy to introduce Japanese culture to local people.”
We’re lucky to have Kota on our team, bringing so much expertise with him. We know the Finance Unit is in very good hands as he leads the way. Feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn and follow us to meet more of our fantastic consultants!
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