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Nishantha Oikawa
Manager, Automotive Aftermarket Division at Bosch Japan
Professional Background
Nishantha Fernando Oikawa is a highly accomplished regional manager at Bosch Automotive Aftermarket, specializing in service solutions for JOEM accounts. His current role involves overseeing the business related to diagnostic software and hardware, where he merges his technical acumen with his sales expertise to drive customer satisfaction and business growth. Nishantha’s career showcases a consistent trajectory of leadership and innovation in the technology and automotive sectors.
Before his tenure at Bosch, from 2016 to 2021, he excelled as the Sales Manager, responsible not only for overseeing sales but also for team management. During this period, Nishantha played a pivotal role in delivering Industry 4.0 solutions and the Bosch IoT Suite platform, catering to the manufacturing sector. His proactive approach enabled him to engage in a variety of responsibilities, from recruiting team members to managing budgets, orchestrating marketing activities, and liaising with international partners, showcasing his versatility in both sales and operational management.
Prior to joining Bosch, Nishantha made significant contributions as an Account Manager at OSIsoft Japan, where he was instrumental in developing new customer relationships related to Big Data and IoT. His success was marked by his abilities in identifying market opportunities and crafting tailored solutions to meet customer needs, empowering organizations to harness data-driven insights.
Nishantha's extensive experience also includes over seven years in the measurement and automation industry at National Instruments, a leader in the field. Initially, he worked at the Japan branch, serving as a Field Sales Engineer and later as an Applications Engineer. His exceptional performance earned him a promotion to the U.S. headquarters, where he managed key accounts across several states in the Mid-Atlantic region. His leadership resulted in remarkable achievements, including a 140% growth in sales for his territory, culminating in the prestigious Circle of Excellence Gold level award from National Instruments, recognizing his exceptional contributions.
Education and Achievements
Nishantha Fernando Oikawa boasts a solid educational background as well. Although he pursued his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at 筑波大学, he decided to leave before completion. He broadened his knowledge further through Executive Education at the University of California, Berkeley. He holds an Engineer’s Degree in Electronics & Telecommunications from The University of Electro-Communications and an Associate's Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Hakodate National College of Technology. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Engineering from the University of Moratuwa.
His educational journey underpins his technical expertise and enables him to integrate practical engineering principles with sound management strategies, setting a solid foundation for his professional achievements.
Core Skills
Nishantha's extensive skill set positions him as a pivotal figure in the technology sector. His core competencies include:
- Sales Skills: Proficient in account management, strategic sales planning, new business development, and international sales.
- Technical Skills: Provides software and hardware technical support, delivers customer training, and spearheads system development using data collection devices and software, also excelling in consulting for NI products and PI System implementation.
- Management Skills: Exhibits strong leadership in team management for technical departments and in-house sales teams.
- Communication and Language Skills: Fluent in both English and Japanese, with excellent communication abilities and negotiation skills, allowing him to forge strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
- International Experience: Brings rich global exposure, having lived and worked in the United States (Washington D.C.) for three years and Japan for two decades, allowing him to understand diverse business cultures and markets.
Conclusion
Nishantha Fernando Oikawa stands out as a dynamic leader with a rare combination of technical expertise, sales acumen, and management skills that drive organizational success. His career reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation, making him a significant contributor to the firms he has been a part of. As the automotive and technology landscape continues to evolve, Nishantha is poised to remain at the forefront, leveraging his rich experience to steer his team and company towards unparalleled success.
