HONG KONG, 6 June 2017 — Mr Ogai will succeed Naomi Denning, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Pacific Investment business, who after 23 years with the company, will be leaving the Company to relocate to Canada in a long planned move with her family.
With 14 years of business management and client service experience at Willis Towers Watson in Japan, Taro will also draw from his diverse career working in asset management and management consulting roles, to build on the strong business foundations that Naomi has created.
Taro has most recently led efforts to build the company’s investment solutions capability in Japan while serving a number of large clients as trusted adviser. Previously, he served as Managing Consultant for the diverse Willis Towers Watson business in Japan for three years, and prior to that Taro was the leader of the Investment team in Tokyo for six years.
Taro began his career in asset management, and before joining Willis Towers Watson worked at the management consultancy McKinsey & Company. Taro has lived and studied in Japan, England, the Netherlands, and the US, and has worked with multinational and local clients during this time.
Following a review of the Investment business’ operating structure in the region, Jayne Bok has been appointed as Head of Investments for Asia. Jayne will be responsible for Willis Towers Watson’s Investment activities in Asia Pacific outside of Japan and Australia. Based in Hong Kong, Jayne will start in this newly created role on 1st July and will report to Taro Ogai.
Jayne will transition from her current role as Willis Towers Watson’s Head of Sovereign Advisory for Asia, where she has been responsible for advising a wide range of the most sophisticated sovereign entities in Asia Pacific on their investment arrangements. Previously, Jayne successfully built the Company’s Korean Investment practice into the leading investment consultancy in Korea. Jayne’s diverse client and consulting experience, including time in Willis Towers Watson’s Talent & Rewards segment, will be invaluable as she assumes the challenge of leading the Asia Investment business across some of the most diverse markets in this region.
Chris Ford, Global Head of Investment said: “Taro’s all-round business and client experience make him well suited to take on the role of Asia Pacific regional investment business leader. His appointment comes at an exciting time as we continue our transition from a pure advice business to being a leading investment solutions firm using both advice and implementation capabilities.
“The needs of Willis Towers Watson’s clients in Asia Pacific have rapidly evolved in recent years as they face increasingly complex risks in a low yield environment, and wide ranging investment decisions, with limited resources and skills to deal with this. Where they have previously turned to us to advise and provide intellectual capital to aid each individual decision, there is a growing realisation that this approach is not manageable or sustainable in the longer term. As a result, clients are now frequently asking us to take on more of the decision making and execution on their behalf, including building better investment solutions. The appointments of Taro and Jayne will help us to meet these needs.”
Naomi has had a highly successful 23 years at Willis Towers Watson, and has developed deep Asia expertise having been based in Hong Kong during this time. This planned transition will allow a smooth handover of both business leadership and continuity in client servicing work.
Discussing her future plans, Naomi said: “I have been honoured to lead the Investment business and to help Willis Towers Watson build its reputation as one of the most respected investment consultants in Asia Pacific. I am leaving behind a very strong team with invaluable client experience and insights. I have total confidence in them and I am convinced they will take the business forward to achieve more success. Naturally, I will miss them all, however the time is now right for another colleague to have the opportunity to lead. I would like to thank our clients and my colleagues for their enthusiastic support throughout the years.”
Commenting on Naomi’s contributions, Chris Ford said: “I would like to thank Naomi for her commitment, passion, tireless efforts and partnership in leading the Investment business in Asia Pacific through a period of tremendous growth. I understand Naomi’s desire to take on new challenges and for her and her family to move on to the next stage of their lives in Canada. I am glad that we have been able to affect this transition to Taro in a planned and thoughtful way and I wish her good fortune and success in the next phase of her life and career.”
Willis Towers Watson’s Investment business is focused on creating financial value for institutional investors through its expertise in risk assessment, strategic asset allocation, fiduciary management and investment manager selection. It has over 900 colleagues worldwide, assets under advisory of over US$2.3 trillion and over US$87 billion of assets under management.
Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 40,000 employees serving more than 140 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas — the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential.
