Okamura leads UBS Global Asset Management Japan

UBS Global Asset Management Japan appointed Susumu Okamura as president and representative director, effective immediately. Okamura assumes the role from Christof Kutscher, member of UBS’s Group Managing Board and head of UBS Global Asset Management for Asia Pacific, who has concurrently held the position of President and representative director of UBS Global Asset Management Japan since June 2007.

Most recently head of the institutional marketing and products for UBS Global Asset Management Japan, Okamura brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before joining UBS in October 2005, he spent 20 years working for Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company in a variety of senior positions in Japan and the US. In 2000, he was named president and CEO of the US division of DIAM Co., Ltd. In the new role, Okamura will continue report to Kutscher, who will relocate to Hong Kong to focus on his role as Head Asia Pacific.

“I am confident that Okamura-san’s experience and wide-ranging knowledge of the funds management industry will provide further momentum to UBS Global Asset Management Japan’s strategy of further enhancing its engagement with Japanese clients while, at the same time, delivering UBS’s global expertise and resources,” said Kutscher.

“We have repositioned our Japan business over the past two years; especially our wholesale, mutual fund business which is thriving notwithstanding the difficult market conditions. With Okamura-san at the helm we will provide our clients in Japan with top service and products tailor-made for the Japanese market,” said Kutscher.

Okamura received a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia University in 1994 and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Tokyo in 1985.