The new hire will replace the current head, who will retire later this year after six years with the firm.

Northern Trust has appointed Keishi Yamamoto to lead its asset management business in Japan. 

Yamamoto will replace Hidehiro Nakayama, who will retire later this year as current president and representative director, the firm said in a statement.

Reporting to John McCareins, managing director, Asia-Pacific at Northern Trust Asset Management, Yamamoto will manage the continued growth and evolution of Northern Trust Asset Management’s business in Japan, and will have responsibility for sales, product development, client service and operational teams in Tokyo. 

Yamamoto has around 25 years of investment management experience. Prior to Northern Trust, he was head of pensions at Wellington Management Japan Pte. 

Nakayama will serve as chairman and director until his retirement after nearly 30 years in the financial services industry.  He has worked for Northern Trust for over six years including serving as president and representative director for five years.

“Yamamoto’s valuable experience in the Japanese market combined with a deep understanding of our clients’ needs will continue to position us for growth in this region,” said McCareins. 

Northern Trust has been serving the Japanese market since 2003, providing multi-asset class investment management and advisory services to pensions, not for profits and financial intermediaries.  Northern Trust has 11 offices across APAC, in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea.

This publication reported in August that Northern Trust had appointed one of its senior figures, Yen Leng Ong, as country head for Singapore and head of Southeast Asia.