Global Head of Travel, Card, Expense and Fleet Programs
Professional Overview
Yasuo Sonoda is a seasoned global business leader with extensive expertise in streamlining travel, payment, expense, and fleet programs across multinational organizations. As the Global Head of Travel, Card, Expense and Fleet Programs at Ariat International, he leverages his strategic vision and operational excellence to drive innovation and efficiency within complex corporate ecosystems.
Experience Summary
Current Role
In his current role at Ariat International, Yasuo is responsible for overseeing the company's global travel, corporate card, expense reimbursement, and fleet management initiatives. He collaborates cross-functionally to develop and implement data-driven strategies that optimize program performance, enhance user experience, and deliver cost savings. Under his leadership, Ariat has achieved significant improvements in travel policy compliance, expense management, and fleet utilization.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Ariat, Yasuo held senior leadership positions at prominent companies, including Lucid Motors, LinkedIn, PGP Corporation, Spansion (now Cypress Semiconductor), SAP BusinessObjects, and Macromedia (now part of Adobe). Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive transformational change, implement best-in-class technology solutions, and foster collaborative partnerships with stakeholders.
Yasuo's diverse background in the airline, travel agency, and technology sectors has equipped him with a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of corporate travel, payments, and expense management. His expertise in strategic sourcing, vendor management, and program optimization has enabled him to deliver measurable business impact for the organizations he has served.
Academic Background
Yasuo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, where he specialized in Operations Management and Information Systems.
Areas of Expertise
- Travel program strategy and optimization
- Corporate card and expense reimbursement management
- Fleet management and utilization
- Procurement and strategic sourcing
- Vendor selection and relationship management
- Data analytics and performance reporting
- Change management and cross-functional collaboration
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Yasuo has spearheaded innovative initiatives that have driven significant cost savings, improved user experience, and enhanced compliance for global organizations. At Lucid Motors, he successfully implemented a new travel, card, and expense reimbursement tool, resulting in a 20% reduction in travel expenses and a 90% user satisfaction rate. At LinkedIn, he led the transformation of the company's workplace performance strategies, which were recognized with the CoreNet Global Innovation Award.
Conclusion
With his deep industry expertise, strategic mindset, and proven track record of delivering impactful business outcomes, Yasuo Sonoda is poised to continue making a lasting contribution to Ariat International's global growth and operational excellence. His commitment to driving innovation and fostering collaborative partnerships positions him as a valuable asset in the evolving landscape of corporate travel, expense, and fleet management.
