Mercer Japan and PROGRIT Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Expatriate Managers Through English Coaching Program Specialized for Management Scenarios

Mercer Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Taiji Kusaka), a subsidiary of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in helping clients realize their ambitions, shape their future, and improve their well-being and retirement, today announced a strategic business partnership with PROGRIT Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Shogo Okada; TSE Growth: 9560), a provider of various English learning services, for an English coaching service for expatriate managers.

As Japanese companies accelerate their global expansion, the English communication skills of Japanese expatriate managers leading local teams at overseas bases have become a crucial factor for successful assignments. However, traditional business English training has focused on daily conversation and document creation, with limited programs supporting the acquisition of practical English expressions required in management-specific situations such as performance reviews, feedback to subordinates, trouble handling, and motivation.

Through this partnership, PROGRIT and Mercer Japan will offer a practical English program specialized for business and management scenarios faced by expatriates. By combining Mercer Japan's expertise in human resource development and organizational development for expatriates with PROGRIT's specialization in intensive short-term English coaching, we will support the development of confidence and skills in practical communication. Furthermore, this partnership will strengthen Mercer Japan's support for clients aiming to improve expatriates' mindset, leadership, and overseas assignment outcomes.

[Features of this Partnership]

- Content Specialized for Management Scenarios Systematizes management scenarios that expatriate managers face in their work, including performance reviews, setting role expectations, delivering difficult feedback, handling trouble, and motivation.

- Approximately 460 Practical English Expressions for Each Scenario Developed under the supervision of Mercer Japan's organizational and HR consultants and adopted as content for speaking training.

- Rapid Skill Acquisition Through Intensive Short-Term Coaching Through PROGRIT's unique coaching methodology, English skills necessary for management are intensively acquired within the limited period before or during an assignment. A customized curriculum is provided based on each participant's English proficiency and challenges, with a dedicated consultant providing thorough progress management and support.

- Role-Playing Practice Using AI PROGRIT's AI English conversation app enables role-playing practice simulating management scenarios. Repeated practice in an environment that replicates actual work situations enhances retention of expressions and immediate response capabilities.

Taiji Kusaka, President of Mercer Japan Inc., commented on this partnership:

"Today, organizations are investing heavily in business growth overseas, and the communication skills of expatriate managers are crucial to the success of overseas operations. Many of Mercer Japan's clients wish to support their future global-minded leaders in communicating effectively in management situations. Through our partnership with PROGRIT, we will further strengthen our support for clients not only in designing appropriate talent frameworks and HR measures but also in building practical communication skills to influence people locally."

Shogo Okada, President of PROGRIT Inc., stated:

"Mercer Japan is a leading company that has supported the development of global human resources and organizations in 130 countries worldwide. We are deeply honored to partner with Mercer and offer specialized English coaching for expatriate managers in management scenarios. We are confident that by merging PROGRIT's expertise in English learning with Mercer's extensive organizational and HR knowledge, we can deliver an unprecedentedly practical program. We will continue to contribute to the development of global human resources for Japanese companies."

About PROGRIT Inc.

With the mission of "Increasing the number of people who can work freely in the world," PROGRIT provides services to support individuals who are serious about acquiring English proficiency. Centered around the English coaching service "PROGRIT," the company also offers subscription-based English learning services. The current lineup of subscription services includes "SHADOTEN" for improving listening skills, "SUPIFUL" for improving speaking skills, AI English conversation "DiaTalk," and English vocabulary learning "ProWords." In September 2022, the company was listed on the TSE Growth Market in its sixth year since its founding.

- Company Name: PROGRIT Inc.

- Representative: Shogo Okada, President and Representative Director

- Establishment: September 6, 2016

- Location: 11F, Hamamatsucho Square, 1-30-5 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo

- URL: https://about.progrit.co.jp/

About Mercer

Mercer is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital strategy, talent strategy, investment, and management consulting, and a part of Marsh (https://www.corporate.marsh.com/global/home.html) (NYSE: MRSH), which provides advice to clients in 130 countries worldwide. With annual revenues exceeding $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues worldwide, Marsh helps clients navigate an increasingly complex world. For more information about Mercer, visit mercer.com (https://www.mercer.com/ja-jp/) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk=bf&trkInfo=AQHsxDlf-z-cRwAAAZ9A0jm4CbZh2q4QDOfUs98j-x_V9pEDyM7WeNq0vwL0ZX1L5jEc-lcaLlG26xWUugd9A9vZHR6Fr3B4UjhxyVshLm3TH4CRa6nwEzX8hRGRrkpOk8-XvY8=&original_referer=&sessionRedirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fmercer ).