Atsushi Ikari was named director general of the Government Pension Investment Fund’s investment strategy department, said an e-mailed announcement Wednesday from his predecessor, Tokihiko Shimizu.
Mr. Shimizu said in his e-mail he left his post as director general of Tokyo-based GPIF’s research department in January after more than seven years with the pension fund, to return to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as director, head of research, with the ministry’s pension bureau.
Mr. Shimizu said GPIF’s research department was “converted” on Jan. 1 to the investment strategy department, with new roles to be added overseeing risk management as well as the GPIF’s rebalancing strategy.
Mr. Shimizu said Mr. Ikari likewise comes to the GPIF from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Details regarding his previous position at the ministry couldn’t immediately be confirmed.
The Japanese pension fund’s investment portfolio was valued at ¥130.9 trillion ($1.11 trillion) as of Sept. 30.
