Representative Director - Japan

About the role

This position involves spearheading our investment activities and market expansion throughout Japan. You will guide business development, cultivate client relationships, and ensure adherence to local regulations within the Japanese market.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Establish and manage the Japan office, including hiring staff, shaping the workplace culture, defining operational rhythms, and building a network of local service providers for legal, tax, accounting, and due diligence needs.
• Formulate investment strategies tailored to the Japanese market, adapting global directives to local channels, valuation standards, governance structures, and syndication practices.
• Develop a systematic approach for deal sourcing through banks, M&A advisory firms, accounting firms, industry events, corporations, and founders.
• Provide support to portfolio companies through board involvement, KPI oversight, securing follow-on funding, facilitating add-on mergers and acquisitions, and recruiting executive talent.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders, including the HQ investment committee, limited partners and co-investors, regulatory bodies, compliance officers, and major business partners.
• Act as the firm's public representative in Japan, enhancing brand visibility and nurturing important relationships.

Requirements

• Native-level business fluency in Japanese, enabling effective negotiation, hiring, and relationship-building within Japanese business customs.
• Strong proficiency in written and spoken English for reporting to headquarters, drafting internal memos, and coordinating across international teams.
• 10 to 15 years or more of experience in asset management, investment banking, corporate development, or strategy, with direct involvement in transactions within Japan.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity, demonstrating responsibility for profit and loss, achieving pipeline targets, and managing teams.
• Extensive knowledge of the IT and Technology sectors.
• Demonstrated capability to originate new deals, not just execute existing ones, by networking with founders, corporations, banks, advisors, and local funds.
• A proven history of managing the entire deal execution process, from initial screening and valuation to due diligence, negotiation, and closing.
• Familiarity with Japanese governance practices and decision-making processes, such as ringi, consensus building, and stakeholder mapping.
• A thorough understanding of Japan's legal and regulatory landscape pertinent to investing, including the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) where applicable, the GP/LP environment, reporting standards, and compliance culture.
• Must be a resident of Japan, preferably a Japanese national.
• Must be based in Tokyo, willing to travel frequently within Japan and periodically to headquarters.

Nice to have

• Previous experience in establishing or leading a Japan expansion for an international fund or multinational corporation.
• Experience holding board seats in Japan and a proven ability to influence decisions without creating cultural friction.
• Higher education or an MBA from a Western institution (USA or Europe).
• Certifications such as JSDA Class 1 Sales Representative, Internal Control Manager, or CMA.

Skills & tools

• Strategic foresight to identify market opportunities and implement growth initiatives.
• An extensive network within Japan's institutional investor community, financial sector, and technology industry.
• Leadership capabilities to build, mentor, and retain high-performing teams.
• Skills in client relationship management and business development.
• Cross-cultural communication abilities to effectively bridge local operations with global leadership.
• A focus on risk management and compliance.