Takeshi “Ken” Itai joined Cohen & Steers as a senior vice president and Tokyo-based head of the firm's representative office in Japan.
The position is new.
Client service professionals in Tokyo had reported to New York, said Anthony Ialeggio, senior vice president and director of global marketing, in an interview. But with Japan accounting for more than 20% of Cohen & Steers' almost $48 billion in assets under management as of June 30, an executive with Mr. Itai's seniority was brought in to localize decision-making.
Mr. Itai had been relationship manager, associate partner and head of the Japan financial intermediary group at Wellington International Management in Tokyo. A Wellington spokesman declined to comment.
Robert Steers, Cohen & Steers' co-chairman and co-CEO, said in a news release that Mr. Itai's experience in Japan's subadvisory market segment will enhance the firm's client relationships.
