M&G today announced the appointment of Dr. Ryohei Yanagi as its new Deputy President of M&G Investments Japan, to enhance the firm’s Japanese equities stewardship capabilities.
A renowned figure across Japan in both stewardship and ESG circles, Dr. Yanagi is formally appointed to the non-executive role following a prior period of consultancy with M&G Investments Japan. As an adviser to fund manager Carl Vine, Dr. Yanagi will provide expertise and insight to M&G’s portfolio companies, with the role signalling the firm’s intention to become the manager of choice for Japanese companies.
Throughout his career, Dr. Yanagi has worked with a broad range of private companies and public institutions, as well as holding positions in the academic world as visiting professor at Waseda University. He is well known for the work he has conducted on ESG and stewardship, developing the “Yanagi Model”, a formula designed to show the relationship between ESG factors and corporate value.
M&G has a long history of investing in Japan, with its earliest investments stretching back to 1973. Today, M&G has in excess of £5bn invested in listed Japanese companies in funds managed by Carl Vine and his team.
Carl Vine, co-head of Asia Pacific equity investment at M&G, says: “Dr. Yanagi’s appointment is a major milestone for us as we seek to grow our Japanese investment capability and broaden the range of resources we offer to our portfolio companies. Following important governance changes in Japan in recent years, significant opportunity exists to work closely with companies, helping them to become better versions of themselves. This “value-added shareholdership” creates value not only to the companies in which we invest, but also to our investors. Dr. Yanagi’s experience will help us to offer a best-in-class service to our portfolio companies, generating long term value for our clients.”
Loretta Ng, Head of M&G Asia Pacific, says: “We are pleased to be able to add such talent as Dr. Yanagi to our Japan team where we will be able to extend our legacy as good stewards to the capital we manage. His appointment reflects M&G’s commitment to the Asia Pacific region and to being a responsible shareholder. It also builds upon the long history of corporate stewardship and engagement that we enjoy with our portfolio companies. We believe we can contribute to the positive journey that corporate Japan is on by sharing our knowledge and expertise with our investee companies.”
Dr. Ryohei Yanagi, Deputy President at M&G Japan, says: “I am excited to join M&G and to offer my experience to this market leading investment team. With Japan’s corporate governance reform having passed a critical tipping point, there has never been a more opportune time to seek to create value through exemplary stewardship. I am confident that combining my own broad experience with the investment acumen of the M&G team, we can create win-win situations both investors and investee companies alike.”
