Business Manager’s Message
Satoshi Kitagawa
Overseas Working Business as a pillar of stable growth
WILL GROUP’s Overseas Working Business provides HR services through nine brands in a variety of regions, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Europe, and the United States. At the core of this business are our deep, country- and region-specific roots, which deliver services aligned with local industry characteristics and customer needs.
In our current Medium-Term Management Plan, WILL-being 2026, the Overseas Working Business is positioned as a “pillar supporting stable growth.” While the Domestic Working Business pursues renewed growth with a more assertive approach, the overseas business leverages its diverse portfolio for steady expansion even amid market fluctuations. As a stable driver of profitability for the Group as a whole, its significance continues to increase.
Current status and outlook by sector
The Overseas Working Business consists of three sectors: Australia; ASEAN, centered on Singapore and Malaysia; and Executive Search.
In Australia, which accounts for the largest share of overseas revenue and serves as the backbone for overall business stability, we operate four brands across key cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, with a broad customer base that includes public institutions. With many contracts involving federal and state governments, Australia serves as a stable revenue source that is resistant to economic fluctuations. Although profitability has temporarily declined due to subdued demand in permanent placement, steady demand continues in temporary staffing and outsourcing, and medium-term recovery is expected.
In ASEAN, centered on Singapore and Malaysia, three brands provide services across a wide range of industries, including public institutions, IT, telecommunications, finance, manufacturing, and aviation. While permanent placement remains sluggish, the staffing market is showing signs of recovery, and we are rebuilding the revenue base by flexibly responding to regulatory and labor market changes. Backed by regional economic expansion, the market holds further medium- to long-term growth potential.
The Executive Search business, operated by two brands, provides permanent placement services for CxO-, director-, and manager-level candidates with bases in Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe, and the United States. Although highly sensitive to market conditions and subject to declines during economic slowdowns, the segment generates strong profitability during recovery phases, functioning as an engine driving profit growth for the Group. Currently, we are focusing on cost efficiency and maintaining customer and candidate networks in preparation for the next growth phase.
By combining these three sectors, the Overseas Working Business as a whole possesses a high degree of stability, making it resilient to market fluctuations.
Strengthening competitiveness through business foundations and leadership
In addition to the stability afforded by our diverse business portfolio, the competitive strength of the Overseas Working Business is supported by two key factors. First, we have business foundations rooted in each country’s markets and customers, enabling us to respond swiftly to regulatory and environmental changes. Second, we have strong leadership teams with vast experience. Each brand’s management team has deep expertise in its domain and executes strategies flexibly, grounded in a strong understanding of market and customer needs. In recent years, we have also increased opportunities for cross-company discussions on synergy creation and cost efficiency, further enhancing the quality and speed of management.
As the Executive Officer overseeing the Overseas Working Business, my mission is to ensure short-term efficiency and profit recovery while strengthening competitiveness in the medium term as a “pillar of stable growth.” By flexibly adapting to market changes, we aim to support the Group’s sustainable growth and ability to deliver shareholder returns. Leveraging the strengths of each region, we will continue working with diverse workers worldwide to build a better future. We appreciate your continued expectations for the future development of the Overseas Working Business.
