Robert Walter Roche
BornDecember 7, 1962
Oak Lawn, IL
NationalityAmerican
Alma materIllinois State University, University of Denver
Occupation(s)President, Roche Enterprises; CEO and Chairman, Acorn International

Robert W. Roche is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist active in the U.S., China and Japan.

Early life

Roche grew up outside of Chicago, Illinois. He received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Japanese Studies from Illinois State University in 1985 and a J.D. degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 1988.[1][2]

Career

Business

Robert Roche is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Acorn International Inc., a media and branding direct sales company based in Shanghai, China. He is also the co-founder, Executive Chairman, and President of Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc., a Japan-based company that engages in the TV home shopping business.[2][3] Roche founded Oak Lawn Marketing in 1993 and helped it to become one of Japan’s major infomercial and direct marketing companies.[1] NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s dominant mobile carrier, acquired a 51% stake in the company in 2009.[4][5]

In 2013, Roche co-founded IS Seafood, a company that imports Icelandic fish to China.[6] and also co-founded Cachet Hotel Group. The company is based in Hong Kong and was created with a focus on "building new distinctive hotel brands."[7] Under Roche, in 2014, Cachet acquired URBN Hotel in Shanghai[8] and JIA Shanghai.[9]

Roche also founded and serves as the President of Roche Enterprises, a company that invests in consumer products, hospitality, real estate, and other sectors in Japan, China and the U.S.,[10][11] including Gallup Land Partners, LLC and Green Rock Hemp Holdings, LLC.[12][13] Roche developed Sand Hollow Resort in Hurricane, Utah.[14]

Civic

Roche is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and served as Chairman in 2010.[15] He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.[16][17]

In September 2010, Roche was appointed by President Barack Obama as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.[18]

Roche co-founded and serves on the board of trustees of Business Forward, an organization of business leaders that advise politicians on ways to accelerate the economy.[19] He also serves on the board of advisors of the Center for New American Security.[20]

Philanthropy

In 2005, Roche endowed a chair at Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture in Nagoya, Japan, establishing The Roche Chair for Interreligious Research.[21][22]

Roche founded the Roche Family Foundation,[19] which has supported organizations like U.S.-China Strong, an organization that works to strengthen U.S.-China relations through youth education and exchange programs.[23]

In 2010, he made a joint gift with the Roche Family Foundation of $3 million to the University of Denver Sturm College of Law to establish the Roche Family International Business Transactions Program.[21]

Starting in 1991, Robert became one of the organizers of the American Business Community Nagoya (ABCN), which later became the Chubu Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce Japan (ACCJ), and initiated the Nagoya Walkathon and International Charity Festival.[24] Roche has served as a trustee for the Center for American Progress[25][26] and was listed as a supporter under the $100,000 to $499,999 category.[27] He also served on the board of directors of Cara Chicago.[28]

During 2010, Roche joined the board of Americans Promoting Study Abroad.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 Lev, Michael A. (18 March 1999). "Japan's King Of The Infomercial - tribunedigital-chicagotribune". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 rVue Holdings, Inc. Appoints Robert W. Roche to Board of Director, GlobeNewswire, March 12, 2012
  3. ↑ "Management - Acorn International Investor Relations". Acorn International. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Betros, Chris (25 February 2013). "Oak Lawn Marketing ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japan Today. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. ↑ See Morrison, Dianne (6 April 2009). "mocoNews - Japan's DoCoMo Acquires Majority Stake In Oak Lawn Marketing For $308 Million". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Founders | ISSeafood". isseafood.com. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  7. ↑ "Cachet Hotel Group Imports New York Brand - Nano Hotels & Resorts - Designed for the Sophisticated" (Press release). 21 April 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "CACHET Hospitality Group Takes Full Ownership Of Urbn Brand In Shanghai, China | CHG". www.cachethotelgroup.com. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  9. ↑ "CACHET Hospitality Group Takes Full Ownership Of Jia In Shanghai, China | CHG". www.cachethotelgroup.com. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  10. ↑ "About Us | Roche Enterprises". www.rocheenterprises.com. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  11. ↑ "Robert Roche | Roche Enterprises". www.rocheenterprises.com. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  12. ↑ "New faces in the business community". UNM Newsroom. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  13. ↑ Staff, Gallupsun. "GLP announces construction plans for trans-loading project". Gallup Sun. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  14. ↑ "Sand Hollow Resort Opens 18 New Suites | Sand Hollow Resorts". www.sandhollowresorts.com. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  15. ↑ "American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai". www.amcham-shanghai.org. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  16. ↑ "Form 6-K". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  17. ↑ "ATV Company Profile & Executives - Acorn International Inc. ADR - Wall Street Journal". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  18. ↑ President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, September 15, 2011
  19. 1 2 "Robert Roche | Business Forward". Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "Robert Roche | Center for a New American Security". Center for New American Security. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  21. 1 2 Squires, Chase (14 December 2010). "Ascend: The Campaign for the University of Denver - Roche Family Foundation and Robert Roche". University of Denver. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  22. ↑ "The Roche Chair for Interreligious Research at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture | Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture". nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  23. ↑ "Roche Family Foundation Partners with US-China Strong to Help US Students Study Abroad". US China Strong Foundation. 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  24. ↑ "A History of Walking | Japanzine". www.japanzine.jp. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  25. ↑ "A New Relationship for China and the United States - Center for American Progress". Center for American Progress. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  26. ↑ "About - Center for American Progress". Center for American Progress. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  27. ↑ "Our Supporters - Center for American Progress". Center for American Progress. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  28. ↑ "Board of Directors | The Cara Program". www.thecaraprogram.org. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  29. ↑ "Americans Promoting Study Abroad". Americans Promoting Study Abroad. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
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