GRANT OGATA

Grant Ogata has over 30 year experience in consumer electronics and retail industry focused on technology, business development and global marketing strategies, product sourcing, product development, and turning technology into successful products at retail

Ogata’s expertise include sales, merchandising, and marketing of consumer electronic products to top retailers in North America and Asia,  product innovation and development, knowledge and key contacts with top Original Development Manufacturers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, major semiconductor companies,  as well as expert knowledge in buying and selling of used electronics goods and recycling, international logistics, contract negotiations, industrial design, packaging, and marketing strategy for consumer electronics

Prior to Identity Ventures, Ogata previously worked at Motorola Mobility, acquired by Google, as Sr. Director of Global Retail & Distribution. He developed direct retail strategy for new converged products and opened new accounts by working with product teams and customers. He also teamed with product groups and marketing department to develop effective point of sale and ecommerce marketing materials and led and managed all e-Commerce merchandising & promotions and increased revenue by 25%. 

In addition to experience at Motorola, Ogata consulted for Powermat, Ltd. as VP of New Business Initiatives and as VP of Manufacturing for almost 4 years, helping this Israeli startup company launch product to market at major retailers and developing business with major OEM/ODM players.  Powermat has formed a Joint Venture with Proctor Gamble/Duracell marketing wireless power accessories under the Duracell-Powermat brand.

Ogata also served as EVP of Worldwide Operations for Arkados, a semiconductor company focused on designing Sytem-on-Chips that distribute multi-media data over electrical power line in homes and buildings.  He was responsible for business development, sales, and marketing. He was also instrumental in successfully negotiating the sale of its semiconductor assets to ST Microelectronics, a top 5 semiconductor company in the world.

Ogata served over 25 years RadioShack Corporation with over 4,500 retail stores in the U.S. as Vice President of Global Sourcing and Product Development. His responsibilities included overseeing staff of over 200, developing sourcing and retailing strategies for over 1,500 private label products that generated over $1.2 billion in revenue and $600 million on gross profit, overseeing all the direct sourcing products from Asia and managing offices in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai, China including a six-year expatriate assignment in Asia based in Tokyo working with major manufacturers and retailers in Japan, Korea, and Greater China

Ogata has also served as a board member of Consumer Electronic Association’s (CEA) Accessories Division, a member of the CEA R6.3 Wireless Power Working Group, and a board member of CEA’s Home Networking and Information Technology division. He also served as the Chairman of HomePlug’s Powerline Alliance for Command and Control Working Group. Ogata also served on the Board of Advisors for Wilife, successful IP surveillance camera company later acquired by Logitech International

Ogata holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and completed one year intensive study program at Gifu University, Japan. He is bi-lingual with fluent language capability in both English and Japanese with some working knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.