ZK Key Member Interview: Takehiko Aoki

A New Key Member at ZooKeep: Takehiko Aoki on Joining the Team

Interview Date: 2025/6/26
Interviewee: Takehiko Aoki, Senior HR Professional & ZooKeep Team Member
Interviewer: Fuminori Gunji, ZooKeep Head of Marketing

Executive Summary

Takehiko Aoki, a seasoned human resources leader with experience across major global enterprises, joined ZooKeep in 2024 to help shape organizational design and talent strategy at the startup.

In this interview, he shares why he chose to join ZooKeep, how his experience leading large-scale transformation informs his approach today, and his perspective on HR’s evolving role in driving sustainable organizational success.

Choosing ZooKeep: A New Chapter in HR

Why did you decide to join ZooKeep?

I’ve worked in HR roles across global enterprises and private equity environments, but what attracted me to ZooKeep was its commitment to supporting organizations in a deep and practical way, not just through tools, but through true partnership.

I was particularly drawn to ZooKeep’s mission to help Japanese organizations compete more effectively on a global stage, while also creating environments where both employees and the business can grow together.

Early Career and Influential Projects

What experience stands out from your career?

One of the most formative experiences in my career was leading the launch of a new manufacturing facility in the United States during my time at Bridgestone.

That project required navigating differences in culture, labor practices, and operational norms, while building new approaches that balanced local realities with global standards. It reinforced the importance of creativity, adaptability, and collaboration when driving organizational change.

Technology and Human Potential

How do you view the intersection of HR technology and human work?

I see technology as something that should amplify human capability, not replace it. ZooKeep’s approach is not simply about providing ATS software or digital tools.

Instead, technology is used as a bridge to deeper organizational insight and more effective decision-making. My goal is to apply my experience with large-scale transformation to ensure that technology genuinely supports people, teams, and long-term performance.

HR as the Heart of Organizational Success

What role should HR play in today’s companies?

HR should sit at the center of organizational strategy. It should not be viewed as a back-office or support function, but as a core driver of business value.

Through my involvement in global transformation initiatives, I’ve consistently seen that organizations with strong, strategically aligned HR functions outperform others, both in business results and in organizational culture. ZooKeep’s dual focus on technology and human insight closely aligns with that belief.

Looking Ahead

What are you excited about in your work at ZooKeep?

I want HR and recruitment work to feel engaging and meaningful, where people are energized by the impact they create rather than overwhelmed by process.

Through collaboration with clients and partners, I hope to help build experiences where HR is clearly recognized as a central contributor to business success, and where individual potential is fully realized within organizations.

About the Interviewee

Takehiko Aoki is a senior HR professional with extensive experience leading organizational transformation and talent strategy at major global companies, including Bridgestone and other international enterprises. He joined ZooKeep in 2024 to bring deep human capital expertise to startup-scale talent and organizational innovation.