Customer Service & Contact Center Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Chair:
Yuji Hamamoto, President and CEO,
Altius Inspiro, Inc., Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Yuji Hamamoto is the President and CEO of Inspiro, leading over 11,000 customer champions across 12 international locations. With more than three decades of diversified global experience with Mitsui & Co., he has held senior-level positions in sales and marketing, finance and investments, trading, project development and implementation, and operations management in the ICT and electronics business sector.
Since assuming his current role in 2020, Yuji has steered Inspiro into becoming an industry-recognized leader in global digital customer experience (CX) outsourcing. His focus on enhancing agent experience, improving customer experience, and optimizing operational efficiency in leading successful DX initiatives for network optimization, infosec augmentation, data consolidation, and analytics has driven outstanding results and significant growth. His leadership has notably earned the company global accolades for its excellence in management, customer service delivery, customer and agent experience, and innovative technology.
Educated at Keio University, Tokyo, with a BA degree in Political Science, Yuji’s professional journey has spanned multiple continents, including Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the CIS countries. Today, he operates from Inspiro’s headquarters in Makati City, Philippines.
Committee:
Bilge Bora, CEO
Marm Assistance, Istanbul, Türkiye
Bilge embarked on her professional journey after graduating from Marmara University with a degree in Political Science and Administration in 1996 and started her career at Koçbank. She has a master’s degree with a double major in Business Administration and Marketing from Yeditepe University; she fortified her academic foundation with practical expertise.
Kate Brouse, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Humach, Sarasota, Florida, United States
Kate Brouse is a CX professional and public speaker passionate about AI and inclusion. As a thought leader, she consults with companies seeking to use AI to increase inclusion, drive sales, and support customers by blending the creativity of humans with the computational power, analytics and automation of machines.
Benedict Decilio, Former Principal Director
Global Professional Services Company, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Bon is a seasoned executive with 30 years of experience working in diverse industries. He led large-scale business and technology transformation projects across Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and North America and over the years, he helped multinational companies in their Global Business & Customer Services journey.
Jean-Pierre Dumas, Founder/CEO
CX & Growth Strategies, Austin, Texas, United States
Jean-Pierre "J.P." is a seasoned Customer Experience (CX) Executive with over 25 years of leadership expertise in driving business transformation, optimizing sales performance, and fostering customer loyalty across Fortune 500 companies. Known for delivering strategic initiatives that drive revenue growth, reduce churn, and enhance operational efficiency, J.P. is passionate about transforming service organizations.
Steve Ernest, Sr. Vice President - International Ops.
Startek, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Steve is recognized as an innovative and strategic senior vice president with over 21 years of experience in managing consumer businesses across multiple locations. He brings a wealth of expertise to the table and has extensive experience steering businesses through challenging transitions in highly competitive environments and seeing through the implementation of long-term strategic objectives.
Richard Feinberg, Emeritus Professor of Consumer Sciences
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Richard Feinberg, Ph.D., consumer psychologist and professor in the Department of Consumer Sciences Purdue University. Headed the Department and the Director of the Center for Customer-Driven Quality. He published 200+ research papers and co-authored “Call Center Management: Great Ideas Th(at) Work” and Customer Relationship Management (Prentice Hall).
JoAnn Kay, Chief of Staff
Graduation Source, Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
JoAnn is an expert in service with 45 years of experience. As one of the Directors on the Leadership Team at The GordonGroup, JoAnn works for AvantiSystemsusa.com and GraduationSource.com. She takes pride in providing the best service possible to all. JoAnn’s success can be traced back to Fortune 500 companies.
Surender Khandelwal , Product Management Director
Aspen Technology Inc, Houston, Texas, United States
Surender Khandelwal is a visionary Product Management Director with 16+ years of expertise in software licensing, deployment, and infrastructure. Known for driving customer-centric innovations, optimizing strategic processes, and leading cross-functional global teams, he consistently delivers scalable solutions that enhance user experience, security, and adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
Sunny Nandwani, CEO & Founder
Acuver Consulting Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Sunny Nandwani, Founder and CEO of Acuver Consulting Inc., stands at the forefront of IT innovation in the Order and Warehouse Management landscape. Under his visionary leadership, Acuver has empowered Fortune 100 companies globally, delivering bespoke digital solutions. As a distinguished alumnus of IIM Bangalore, he is also adorned with accolades.
Dennis Reno, Chief Customer Officer
Cyara, San Francisco, California, United States
An experienced Chief Customer Officer with a long and successful career at industry-leading software companies in Silicon Valley. Most recently Chief Customer Officer at Cyara and board advisor at Enactify.ai.
Harkanwal Singh Sidhu, Engagement Manager, Content Director
McKinsey & Company, San Francisco, California, United States
Harkanwal is a senior operations leader at McKinsey, with a proven track record of multimillion-dollar strategic transformations for Fortune 500 clients worldwide. Renowned for his expertise in business resiliency and supply chain optimization, he has played a pivotal role in redefining the strategic impact of procurement teams. He is a graduate of IIT Kharagpur.