KKR has appointed former President and CEO of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and the Japan Exchange Group (JPX), as Non-Executive Chairman of KKR Japan, effective 1 August, 2015.
Henry R Kravis (pictured), Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, says: “We are extremely fortunate to have Mr Atsushi Saito join us. He brings immense expertise gained through his distinguished career, where he has worked and advocated to bring value to companies and uphold the highest corporate governance standards.”
Joseph Y Bae, Managing Partner of KKR Asia, adds: “We across KKR Asia and, indeed, our global network, look forward to learning from his vast insights as we work to invest in the highest caliber companies and then to help them enter new markets.”
Saito has been an influential member of Japan’s business community through his decades-long career. He most recently helped to promote Japan’s public markets activity and enhance corporate governance reporting standards in his leadership roles at Japan’s exchange groups.
“KKR has cultivated a strong reputation by investing alongside some of Japan’s leading companies, taking a long-term partnership approach to business management, and adding value beyond capital. KKR has helped Japanese companies become more competitive both in Japan and worldwide, doing so while being mindful of Japanese business culture and values. I’m proud to be Chairman of a team that exhibits these principles, and I look forward to assisting KKR Japan in its continuous effort to improve the corporate values and governance of Japanese companies,” says Saito.
