On June 6, 2025, Ariki Ono — CEO of Nexgen Japan and Principal of Advanced Talent at Tokio Marine Holdings — took the stage at "LOGISTICS DX SUMMIT 2025" held in Tokyo.
Panel Discussion: "The CLO's Next Move Toward 2030"
In the panel discussion titled "The CLO's Next Move Toward 2030: Strategies and Organisational Design to Accelerate Japan's Logistics Transformation," Ono discussed the strategic significance of AI adoption and logistics DX amid population decline and labour shortages. He presented recommendations on the new responsibilities required of shipper companies, the introduction of the CLO (Chief Logistics Officer) role, and the restructuring of the entire supply chain.
Sounding the Alarm on Low AI Adoption in Logistics
- While 30% of companies in other industries report having started using generative AI, only 9% of logistics companies have done so — highlighting a significant adoption gap
- Emphasised that driving productivity gains through generative AI innovation is also a core responsibility of the CLO
- Presented a roadmap for logistics transformation toward 2030 and recommendations for organisational design
The Critical Importance of the CLO Role
In Europe and the United States, the logistics executive role is often regarded as a stepping stone to the CEO position. As demonstrated by global leaders with supply chain management backgrounds — such as Tim Cook (Apple) and Brian Cornell (Target) — the era of "those who master logistics master business" has arrived.
For Japan's logistics industry to maintain its competitiveness heading toward 2030, establishing the CLO role and developing talent capable of driving AI adoption are urgent priorities.