Senior Members
Fumiaki Sato Chairman, Co-Founder

Fumiaki is a widely considered among the most knowledgeable bankers in the Japanese electronics industry. Fumiaki began his career as an engineer at Victor JVC. He then began a exceptionally successful career as an research analyst covering Technology, first a Kankau Research, and then later Smith Barney and from 1998 Deutsche Bank, where he also served as Head of Research. After predicting the bursting of the IT bubble in 1999, went on to become one of Japan’s most highly decorated analysts, and was voted the No. 1 securities analyst in Japan for an unprecedented 6 consecutive years by both the Nikkei Shimbun and Institutional Investor. In 2007 he joined Merrill Lynch as a Vice Chairman responsible for TMT investment banking. He is the author of the acclaimed “A Scenario for Realignment of the Japanese Electronics Industry”. Fumiaki graduated from the Musashi Institute of Technology (Tokyo).


Gary Chan Managing Partner, Co-Founder

Gary is a veteran of the Asian financial markets. Gary began his career as a research analyst responsible for Telecommunications with James Capel (Japan) (later renamed HSBC Securities). After a brief stint at Bankers Trust (Hong Kong) in 1994, he joined UBS Securities (Hong Kong) in 1995, where he was both Head of Asian Telecommunications research and Head of Hong Kong / China research. In 1997 Gary moved to investment banking as Head of Asia Telecom banking team. In 1999, he moved to the Japan office of UBS, where he headed the Japanese Telecom banking team. Gary was most recently the Head of Financial Sponsors group, responsible for private equity clients. Gary graduated from UC Berkeley (BA).


Masahiro Tsukidate Managing Director

Masahiro is an experienced senior banker with a proven track record in strategic business development and deal management in the Japanese TMT industry. He has executed and led ground breaking transactions in Japan and globally over the last 15 years, including cross-border M&A, de-mergers, privatizations, leveraged finance, and capital markets. As a senior TMT coverage banker, he developed senior level relationships with key TMT clients starting at Deutsche Securities in 2006. Since then, he was headed TMT technology practices at the investment banking arms of JP Morgan (Tokyo) and SMBC Nikko. In addition to his experience in the financial services, Masahiro has also distinguished himself in industry at leading companies such as Vodafone Japan (global products and services) and as a TMT consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton and PWC Consulting. Masahiro graduated from Cornell University (Ph.D.) .