Kayo Ikeda
Chief Human Resources Officer
Kayo Ikeda is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Temple University Japan (TUJ).
She is a strategic HR leader with 14 years of experience helping organizations navigate growth, transformation, and organizational change while fostering people-centered leadership and high-performing workplace cultures.
Before joining TUJ, Kayo served as Country People & Culture Manager for Japan at AirTrunk, where she was a trusted advisor to senior executives and partnered closely with business and global People & Culture leadership during a period of rapid growth and organizational change. She played a key role in scaling the Japan organization from approximately 20 to 90 employees, helping establish and mature the people infrastructure needed to support an increasingly complex business. Her work included workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership support, compensation frameworks, employee relations, and HR governance, as well as translating global frameworks into practical, locally relevant policies and processes for Japan.
Previously, Kayo held HR business partnering and regional HR advisory roles at Booking.com, supporting leaders and employees across multiple locations in Japan, Thailand, and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Earlier in her career, she built a strong foundation in hospitality through roles with Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and The Ritz-Carlton. This experience shaped the people-centered and service-oriented approach she continues to bring to her leadership today.
Her leadership approach combines strategic thinking with empathy, creative problem-solving, and a practical, service-oriented mindset. She is known for building strong partnerships with leaders and helping organizations navigate growth and change while creating workplaces where people can do their best work.
Kayo believes that great universities are built not only by outstanding students and faculty, but also by engaged, supported, and empowered staff. At TUJ, she is committed to building an inclusive and collaborative workplace where people can thrive and the university community can achieve its full potential.