Robert Roche (businessman)
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Robert Roche.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| name = Robert Walter Roche
| birth_date = December 7, 1962
| birth_place = Oak Lawn, IL
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Illinois State University, University of Denver
| occupation = President, Roche Enterprises; CEO and Chairman, Acorn International
}}
Robert Walter 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/03/18/japans-king-of-the-infomercial/|title=Japan's King Of The Infomercial - tribunedigital-chicagotribune|last=Lev|first=Michael A.|date=18 March 1999|website=|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=8 January 2017}}[http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=249001 rVue Holdings, Inc. Appoints Robert W. Roche to Board of Director], GlobeNewswire, March 12, 2012
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.acorninternationalir.com/home/about/management/|title=Management - Acorn International Investor Relations|last=|first=|date=|website=Acorn International|publisher=|access-date=10 January 2017}} Roche founded Oak Lawn Marketing in 1993 and helped it to become one of Japan’s major infomercial and direct marketing companies. NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s dominant mobile carrier, acquired a 51% stake in the company in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantoday.com/category/executive-impact/view/oak-lawn-marketing|title=Oak Lawn Marketing ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion|last=Betros|first=Chris|date=25 February 2013|website=|publisher=Japan Today|access-date=8 January 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040600889.html|title=mocoNews - Japan's DoCoMo Acquires Majority Stake In Oak Lawn Marketing For $308 Million|last=See Morrison|first=Dianne|date=6 April 2009|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=12 January 2017}}
In 2013, Roche co-founded IS Seafood, a company that imports Icelandic fish to China.{{Cite web|url=http://isseafood.com/about-us/founders/|title=Founders {{!}} ISSeafood|website=isseafood.com|access-date=2017-01-13}} 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."{{Cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cachet-hotel-group-imports-new-york-brand---nano-hotels--resorts---designed-for-the-sophisticated-global-traveler-256100571.html|title=Cachet Hotel Group Imports New York Brand - Nano Hotels & Resorts - Designed for the Sophisticated|last=|first=|date=21 April 2014|website=|publisher=|access-date=12 January 2017}} Under Roche, in 2014, Cachet acquired URBN Hotel in Shanghai{{Cite web|url=http://www.cachethotelgroup.com/en/press/cachet-hotel-group-takes-full-ownership-urbn-brand-shanghai-china|title=CACHET Hospitality Group Takes Full Ownership Of Urbn Brand In Shanghai, China {{!}} CHG|website=www.cachethotelgroup.com|access-date=2017-05-15}} and JIA Shanghai.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cachethotelgroup.com/es/node/64|title=CACHET Hospitality Group Takes Full Ownership Of Jia In Shanghai, China {{!}} CHG|website=www.cachethotelgroup.com|access-date=2017-05-15}}
{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocheenterprises.com/about-us/robert-roche|title=Robert Roche {{!}} Roche Enterprises|website=www.rocheenterprises.com|access-date=2017-01-13}}
= Civic =
Roche is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and served as Chairman in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/AmChamPortal/mcms/presentation/template/content.aspx?guid=872450E3-1912-4433-A933-6E00E0784C66|title=American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai|website=www.amcham-shanghai.org|access-date=2017-01-13}} He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1365742/000119312510231342/d6k.htm|title=Form 6-K|website=www.sec.gov|access-date=2017-01-13}}{{Cite web|url=http://quotes.wsj.com/ATV/company-people/executive-profile/14741507|title=ATV Company Profile & Executives - Acorn International Inc. ADR - Wall Street Journal|last=|first=|date=|website=Wall Street Journal|publisher=|access-date=8 January 2017}}
In September 2010, Roche was appointed by President Barack Obama as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/15/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts-0 President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts], Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, September 15, 2011
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessfwd.org/speakers/robert-roche|title=Robert Roche {{!}} Business Forward|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=12 January 2017}} He also serves on the board of advisors of the Center for New American Security{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnas.org/people/robert-roche|title=Robert Roche {{!}} Center for a New American Security|last=|first=|date=|website=Center for New American Security|publisher=|access-date=12 January 2017}} and is Vice Chairman of the Quad Investors Network,a non-profit that facilitates investments, joint ventures, and licensing in emerging technologies across the Indo-Pacific.
Philanthropy
In 2005, Roche endowed a chair at Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture in Nagoya, Japan, establishing The Roche Chair for Interreligious Research.{{Cite web|url=http://www.du.edu/give/donor-Roche.html|title=Ascend: The Campaign for the University of Denver - Roche Family Foundation and Robert Roche|last=Squires|first=Chase|date=14 December 2010|website=University of Denver|publisher=|access-date=8 January 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/en/activities/the-roche-chair/|title=The Roche Chair for Interreligious Research at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture {{!}} Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture|last=|first=|date=|website=nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp|publisher=|access-date=2017-01-10}}
Roche founded the Roche Family Foundation, 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.{{Cite web|url=http://uschinastrong.org/2016/12/07/5594/|title=Roche Family Foundation Partners with US-China Strong to Help US Students Study Abroad|last=|first=|date=2016-12-07|website=US China Strong Foundation|publisher=|access-date=2017-01-12}}
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.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.japanzine.jp/article/jz/3157/a-history-of-walking|title=A History of Walking {{!}} Japanzine|website=www.japanzine.jp|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-15}} Roche has served as a trustee for the Center for American Progress{{Cite news|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/news/2013/06/06/65499/a-new-relationship-for-china-and-the-united-states/|title=A New Relationship for China and the United States - Center for American Progress|date=2013-06-06|work=Center for American Progress|access-date=2017-05-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/mission/|title=About - Center for American Progress|work=Center for American Progress|access-date=2017-05-15|language=en-US}} and was listed as a supporter under the $100,000 to $499,999 category.{{Cite news|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/c3-our-supporters/|title=Our Supporters - Center for American Progress|work=Center for American Progress|access-date=2017-05-15|language=en-US}} He also served on the board of directors of Cara Chicago.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecaraprogram.org/about/board-directors|title=Board of Directors {{!}} The Cara Program|website=www.thecaraprogram.org|language=en|access-date=2017-05-15}}
During 2010, Roche joined the board of Americans Promoting Study Abroad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.apsaglobal.org/governance|title=Americans Promoting Study Abroad|website=Americans Promoting Study Abroad|access-date=2017-05-15}}
Family
His wife is Ritsuko Hattori. The Roches have three children: Eddie, Yurina and Bobby.