ICPA

What ICPA does

ICPA (International Computer Professional Associates), founded in 1992 by Tony Rodriguez in San Francisco, is a private executive search and recruitment firm operating primarily in Japan with offices in Tokyo and Bangkok. The firm specializes in placing high-level executives and management talent for foreign companies entering the Japanese market, with a strong focus on SaaS, cloud, IT, and consulting sectors. It serves enterprise clients through contingency-based (success-fee) engagements, conducting direct headhunting outreach to passive candidates not actively on the job market and providing customized interview preparation, resume coaching, and career development support. The firm holds paid employment placement licenses from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and operates through both the original US-domiciled International Computer Professional Associates entity and a newly formed Japanese subsidiary, icpa株式会社 (icpa K.K.), established in June 2026.

The firm's go-to-market is built on long-tenured consultant relationships (approximately 12 recruiting professionals including CEO, Account Directors, Senior Associates, and Consultants), a flagship partnership with Japan Cloud Consulting/Japan Cloud Computing (JCC) that generated mandates for 12 SaaS firms in 2024, and a track record of consecutive awards from Amazon/AWS (Agency of the Year 2013-2016) and Japan Cloud (Top Agency 2022-2024). Revenue is generated entirely on a transaction-fee basis tied to successful placements, with services provided free of charge to job candidates. The firm has no software products, public APIs, or AI/ML capabilities; its core asset is its consultant bench, proprietary screening methodologies, and 33+ years of accumulated candidate and client networks in Japan. Leadership transitioned in April 2025 when Ryo Sonobe became CEO succeeding founder Tony Rodriguez, who moved to an Advisor role.

Name

ICPA

Legal name

icpa株式会社 (icpa K.K.)

Website

https://icpa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICPA is a private executive search firm founded in 1992, specializing in placing senior executives and management talent for foreign SaaS, cloud, and consulting companies entering Japan, operating via contingency-based placements from offices in Tokyo and Bangkok.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Executive Search / Recruitment Services: Contingency-based fee model where services are provided free to job candidates; fees are paid by client companies upon successful placement. Operates similarly to a retainer model with proactive outreach to candidates not actively on the job market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ICPA is an executive search and recruitment agency founded in 1992, specializing in placing high-level executives and management professionals for foreign companies entering Japan and large Japanese corporations. The firm operates on a contingency/success-fee model where client companies pay only upon successful placement, with services delivered by experienced consultants who proactively approach passive candidates not actively seeking jobs. ICPA provides end-to-end recruitment support from candidate sourcing through offer negotiation, with particular depth in IT, SaaS, cloud, fintech, and consulting sectors.

Product overview

ICPA (International Computer Professional Associates) is an executive search and recruitment agency founded in 1992, operating as a traditional staffing and headhunting service rather than a software product company. The company specializes in placing high-level executives and professionals for foreign and Japanese companies, particularly in the IT, SaaS, and consulting sectors. Services include contingency-based (success-fee) executive search, candidate sourcing through direct outreach to passive talent not actively job-seeking, and end-to-end recruitment support from screening through offer negotiation. No distinct branded software products, modules, or digital platforms are offered — the company delivers its services through experienced human consultants using proprietary methodologies for candidate assessment and matching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search / Recruitment Services
• Japan Market Entry Recruitment Support
• Consulting & Professional Services Recruitment

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 4 consecutive years of Amazon/AWS Agency of the Year awards (2013-2016)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Japan Cloud Consulting / Japan Cloud Computing (JCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025ICPA serves as the primary agency partner for Japan Cloud's portfolio of SaaS companies entering Japan market. Supports recruitment for 12+ companies including Blackline, Braze, Coupa, Gainsight, KnowBe4, Kong, MIRAKL, nCino, New Relic, PagerDuty, WalkMe, and Xactly. ICPA has received Top Agency Awards from JCC for 3 consecutive years (2022-2024).
• Miro Japan (ミロ・ジャパン合同会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2022ICPA supported Miro Japan's market entry into Japan as a key recruiting partner. Assisted with leadership team recruitment and subsequent sales, marketing, and SE key member hiring. Received Recruiting Award from Miro Japan for helping the company overcome first year challenges and achieve rapid growth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JAC Recruitment: Japan-headquartered executive search and recruitment firm focused on bilingual placements for foreign companies entering Japan and Japanese firms hiring internationally. Directly comparable to ICPA in target customers (foreign firms localizing into Japan) and bilingual professional placement.
• Robert Walters Japan: Global recruitment firm with a sizable Japan practice placing mid-to-senior professionals across technology, sales, and consulting. Comparable to ICPA in serving foreign multinationals and Japanese corporates for white-collar hiring.
• RGF Professional Recruitment Japan (Recruit group): Japan-based recruitment firm under Recruit Holdings placing mid-to-senior professionals across technology, consulting, and finance. Comparable to ICPA in serving foreign multinationals and bilingual professional hiring, with ICPA Principal Wakaaki Wakasa previously leading its consulting practice.
• Hays Japan: Global recruitment specialist with established Japan operations covering technology, sales, and life sciences mandates. Comparable to ICPA in placing mid-to-senior professionals for foreign and Japanese companies in Japan.
• Michael Page Japan: Global recruitment firm placing professionals across technology, sales, and consulting in Japan. Comparable to ICPA in mid-to-senior recruitment for foreign and Japanese enterprises.

Broad incumbents

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm placing board, CEO, and senior executives across industries. Comparable to ICPA at the executive end of the market, though with a global multi-practice platform.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a strong technology practice. Comparable to ICPA in senior executive placement, particularly for technology companies, but at significantly larger global scale.
• Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organizational consulting firm serving board, CEO, and senior leadership mandates across industries. Comparable to ICPA at the high end of executive search, though Korn Ferry operates a much broader, multi-practice platform.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm focused on board, CEO, and senior leadership across technology, financial services, and consumer. Comparable to ICPA in executive search for senior technology leadership, though at materially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Tokyo Edge: Boutique bilingual recruitment firm specializing in placing foreign talent into Japan-based roles, including technology and digital positions. Comparable to ICPA in serving foreign companies entering Japan with smaller-scale, specialized service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icpa
• Xx.com/alexisicpa

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICPA