Yan Sen Lu

As Managing Director at Horton International Japan and the Founder of Makana Partners, I help global companies solve one of Japan’s toughest business challenges: hiring exceptional bilingual talent for senior leadership roles.

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve partnered with Fortune 500s, high-growth startups, and PE-backed firms to build world-class teams across sales, marketing, HR, and general management. From market entry to succession planning, I bring clarity, speed, and discretion to every search.

I specialize in retained and contingent executive search, talent mapping, and advisory for:

• Country Manager & Functional Head roles (Sales, Marketing, HR)
• Japan Market Entry & Expansion Strategy
• Succession Planning & Leadership Assessment

My approach blends international standards with deep local nuance. Trusted by clients for my sharp insight, cross-cultural fluency, and execution discipline, I also leverage AI and automation to drive smarter, faster outcomes.