Growing with JCB and leading beyond boundaries

Career growth doesn’t always mean changing companies. For JCB country manager Wataru Tamura, staying with the same employer for 16 years has taken him further than he ever imagined.

- By ANETH NG-LIM

He joined the international payment brand in 2007 and steadily built his career across different roles and countries. Today, he leads JCB Philippines, guiding the brand’s regional expansion and partnerships.

Growing up in Japan, Tamura once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. While that dream didn’t come true, the sport taught him the value of teamwork — how people with different strengths can come together to achieve something greater than themselves. It’s a lesson he still carries with him as he leads his team to new heights.

How did you choose to join JCB fresh out of college?

As I approached graduation, I was eager to pursue a career in an industry with significant growth potential. The credit card and payments sector stood out as a field that would continue to expand and evolve globally, shaping the way economies and societies operate.

Among the companies I explored, JCB left a particularly strong impression. As the only international payment brand based in Japan, JCB embodied both ambition and integrity — continuously challenging itself to compete on the global stage while remaining rooted in the values of trust, quality, and service that define Japanese business culture. The prospect of contributing to that global journey, and potentially working overseas, greatly appealed to me.

With an Economics degree, you began your career at the Communication Center Department. On paper, they seem to be different training and career paths.

My starting position in the Communication Center Department was focused on customer support and operational management. I was involved in handling cardmember inquiries and issues, which gave me direct, real-time insight into the customer experience. Although it may seem far from my economics background, the experience taught me how our services truly impact customers’ daily lives and how important it is to listen closely to their voices.