Harold Meij
Harold George Meij | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1963 Netherlands |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | President of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2018–2020) |
Harold George Meij (born 4 December 1963) is a Dutch executive recognized for his tenure as president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from May 2018 until October 2020.
Early life
Meij was born in the Netherlands and relocated to Japan during childhood owing to his father's occupation. Subsequently, he resided in Indonesia and the United States, completing his undergraduate studies at Bucknell University and pursuing further education at New York University.
Career
Starting his professional journey in 1987 with Heineken Japan, Meij held subsequent positions at Unilever Japan, Sunstar, and served as Senior Vice President at Coca-Cola Japan up to 2014. He then joined Tomy as Chief Operating Officer and ascended to President and CEO in 2015, distinguishing himself as one of the earliest foreign leaders of a first-section listed firm in Japan. During his leadership, Tomy transitioned from losses to profitability by the fiscal year ending March 2017, with its stock value increasing more than fourfold.
Meij implemented creative initiatives including the strategic placement of “Gacha” capsule vending machines in airports, launching extensive collaboration and licensing ventures, creating toy lines inspired by original animation and cinematic properties, and enhancing brand visibility. Leveraging insights gained from multinational corporations such as Heineken, Unilever, and Coca-Cola, he introduced upwards of 100 innovations, earning acclaim for his marketing expertise and personable leadership style.
In May 2018, Meij was appointed as NJPW’s first non-Japanese president. Proficient in English, Dutch, and Japanese, he authored his initial book in Japanese in 2019. That same year, he was honored with the "45th Global Award" by the Japanese Economic Forum and received the Forbes Japan 2020 Sports Award. After steering NJPW to unprecedented revenue and profit levels, he resigned from his CEO/President role in October 2020.
At present, Meij holds board memberships at Earth Pharmaceuticals, Kewpie, and Panasonic. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to Sanrio and frequently appears as a commentator on TBS’s nationally broadcast news program "N Suta."