Atsushi KoikeThe Kitano Hotel New York, New York City’s first and only Japanese-owned hotel, appoints Atsushi Koike to director, marketing and business development. Koike joins the team from Dentsu, Inc. advertising agency in Japan. As a director, Koike is tasked with expanding the customer base of the hotel through researched marketing and promotion campaigns. Koike brings a skillset unique to The Kitano team, which includes market research and analysis, customer development strategy, business plans, as well as business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketing and promotions. Koike’s responsibilities include enriching customer service and amenities, and devising and advancing sales promotion plans and events for New York-based travel agents and Japanese-owned corporations in the U.S. Koike completed his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance at Bentley University in 2009. In 2011, Koike joined Dentsu, Inc. where he worked on marketing and promotions for one of the major electronics companies, which included media planning, sales and events promotions, customer segment analysis, and customer targeting. As son of The Kitano’s owner Mrs. Yoshiko Koike and heir to Kitano Arms Corporation, Koike joined the board of directors in August 2016, and this role will further integrate him into the company.