Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has appointed Ken Yajima as chief executive officer and representative director of its Japan business, based in Tokyo. Yajima succeeds Neil Slater, who has been appointed deputy head of private markets and global head of real estate. Both appointments take effect in October.
Yajima has over two decades of experience in Japan’s asset management and financial services industry, with a track record in developing successful businesses covering intermediary and institutional, including insurance companies, public and corporate pension funds, pension consultants and other financial institutions.
He joins ASI from Schroders where he held senior roles for 15 years. He was most recently head of distribution and a member of the board of directors at Schroders Japan, responsible for building its Japanese client business and managing the institutional and intermediary sales, product management and development, business support as well as marketing teams.
Prior to that, he was with JP Morgan for fifteen years in senior positions including head of Business Initiatives Management and head of Institutional Sales at the asset management group in Japan.
ASI has established a strong foundation to build a long-term business in Japan, having acquired the Type I and Type II Financial Instruments business licenses this year. It aims to offer a comprehensive suite of global investment capabilities to address Japanese investors’ evolving needs, from equities, fixed income, real estate, private markets, active quant, multi-asset to bespoke solutions.
Slater will be relocating to ASI’s headquarters to oversee the group’s global real estate business and help drive forward its vision and strategy to grow in private markets, encompassing private equity, infrastructure, natural resources and private credit. Leveraging his leadership experience and strong credentials in these “new active” asset classes, which are increasingly favored by Japanese and Asia-Pacific investors, Slater will continue to support clients in Japan and the region.
Hugh Young, head of Asia-Pacific, Aberdeen Standard Investments, says, “Japan is a strategic priority for Aberdeen Standard Investments. Ken brings deep insights into the Japanese asset management industry and a wealth of experience in distribution and business management, which will be critical to realizing our ambition of delivering world-class investment capabilities to meet Japanese clients’ financial goals.
“As private markets and real estate strategies are increasingly important in our clients’ portfolios, I’m delighted that Neil will be able to continue contributing to our Asia-Pacific growth journey in his new capacity,” adds Young.
Yajima says, “The breadth and depth of ASI’s investment capabilities means we are well placed to meet the evolving needs of our clients in Japan. Our on-the-ground investment management presence in Tokyo serves our clients around the world who are attracted by the wide range of investment opportunities the Japanese market offers.”
Aberdeen Standard Investments (Japan) Limited was created in December 2017 from the merger of Standard Life Investments (Japan) Limited and Aberdeen Investment Management K. K. The firm has had a presence in Japan since 2006.
