PROGRIT Forms Strategic Business Alliance with Mercer Japan to Launch "English Coaching Specialized for Management" for Overseas Managers

PROGRIT Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shogo Okada; TSE Growth: 9560), an English learning platform company, has entered into a strategic business alliance with Mercer Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasushi Kusashika; hereinafter referred to as "Mercer"), a Japanese subsidiary of Mercer, a global leader in helping clients achieve their investment objectives, shape their future of work, and improve the well-being and retirement outcomes of their workforce. Mercer is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH).

Through this alliance, the two companies have jointly developed an English coaching program specifically designed for the management situations faced by overseas managers. This program will be offered to corporations through Mercer starting July 9, 2026.

Many Japanese companies expanding overseas currently face challenges in securing talented local personnel. According to JETRO's "Survey of Japanese Companies Overseas (Worldwide Edition, November 2025)," 31.9% of respondents reported that the situation regarding securing local labor in the past two years had "worsened," significantly outweighing the 7.7% who said it had "improved." This is attributed not only to rising wage and benefit demands but also to a "mismatch between the skills of job seekers and the talent desired by companies," particularly at the management level. This indicates that recruiting and retaining skilled local talent capable of steering local operations is not easy.

As competition for talent in local markets intensifies, the role of Japanese expatriate managers in strongly leading local teams becomes increasingly crucial. In particular, "English communication skills" are indispensable for building trust with local staff from different cultures and backgrounds and for unifying the organization, holding the key to successful overseas assignments.

However, management-specific situations such as performance reviews, providing feedback to subordinates, setting role expectations, and handling trouble are difficult to address with general business English training alone. Acquiring practical skills for "managing subordinates in English" remains a common challenge for many prospective expatriates and their companies.

As a robust solution to these challenges, this program has been jointly developed. Based on Mercer's defined "11 Management Scenes," new, specialized English learning content has been created. By integrating the expertise of both organizations in organizational/HR and English learning, the program is offered as "Management-Specialized English Coaching" to empower individuals to lead and influence people locally.

Program Features

Specialized Speaking Content for 11 Management Scenarios

Newly developed are 460 English expressions corresponding to the 11 management scenarios defined by Mercer (e.g., setting role expectations, performance reviews, delivering strict feedback, handling trouble). These expressions have been incorporated into the speaking training of PROGRIT's English coaching service. Each expression can be learned in two patterns: "Grammar/Structure" (to develop the ability to construct sentences independently) and "Phrase Memorization" (to quickly input phrases that can be used immediately in the field). This allows for training tailored to the period before departure and individual learning styles.

Personalized Coaching Tailored to Individual Challenges and Assignment Schedules

PROGRIT's dedicated consultants, who are professionals in English learning, provide thorough support for acquiring the English skills necessary for management. They meticulously analyze each individual's English proficiency and challenges, comprehensively customizing the curriculum while considering the time until the assignment. Through weekly consultations and daily progress follow-ups by consultants, learners are accompanied towards their goals while maintaining motivation.

Role-Playing Practice for Management Scenarios with AI English Conversation

The AI English conversation app "DiaTalk" from PROGRIT can be utilized for role-playing practice simulating actual management scenarios. Users can freely set their role, the other party's role, the situation, and the conversation's objective, enabling them to replicate scenes they might face in the field, such as performance reviews or providing feedback to subordinates. After each lesson, feedback on the conversation content is provided, promoting the retention of correct expressions and fostering practical skills applicable in real-world situations.

Future Outlook

Starting with this alliance, PROGRIT and Mercer will further strengthen their collaborative framework. In the future, the companies plan to explore new initiatives that will more comprehensively support the global talent development of Japanese companies by merging Mercer's expertise in human resources and organizational development with PROGRIT's accumulated know-how in English learning.

Comments from Representatives of Both Companies

Yasushi Kusashika, President and CEO, Mercer Japan Co., Ltd.

"The success of overseas operations hinges on the communication skills of expatriate managers. This means that in addition to practical skills in areas like compensation system and HR policy design, strong practical English proficiency is highly sought after to execute these and to lead people locally. Through our partnership with PROGRIT, we will further strengthen our comprehensive support system for global talent."

Shogo Okada, President and CEO, PROGRIT Inc.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Mercer Japan, a leading company in organizational and HR consulting, to offer this program. By combining our expertise in English learning with Mercer's extensive HR knowledge, we aim to foster leaders who can drive local teams, thereby continuing to contribute to the global talent development and further advancement of Japanese companies."

About PROGRIT FOR ENTERPRISE (Corporate English Training)

PROGRIT's corporate English training service offers a variety of solutions tailored to corporate needs, including English coaching services, subscription-based English learning services, practical training, and customized material development. Through the acquisition of solid English proficiency, it supports the development of global talent capable of succeeding worldwide.

Official Website: https://business.progrit.co.jp/

About Mercer

Mercer is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital strategy, talent strategy, investment, and management consulting. It is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), which provides advice to clients in 130 countries worldwide. Marsh, with annual revenues exceeding $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues globally, guides clients toward a more secure future through its forward-looking perspective. For more information on Mercer, please visit mercer.com or LinkedIn.

Company Profile of PROGRIT Inc.

With the mission to "increase the number of people who can freely operate 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, the AI English conversation app "DiaTalk," and "ProWords" for vocabulary learning. In September 2022, the company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market, six years after its founding.

・Company Name: PROGRIT Inc.

・Representative: Shogo Okada, President and CEO

・Established: September 6, 2016

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

・URL: https://about.progrit.co.jp/

・Business Activities: Development and operation of English coaching services, development and operation of subscription-based English learning services