FTSE Russell Appoints Japan MD

Ishii joined the vendor on January 1, with responsibility for managing client relationships and leading business development in the country. He will also lead local integration between FTSE Russell and its acquisitions of Citi’s Bond Index/Yield Book team and company data provider Mergent from Moody’s.

Prior to joining FTSE Russell, Ishii spent three years at Acadian Asset Management as managing director and the firm’s representative in Japan. Before that, he was Asia-Pacific region co-head and representative in Japan at Millburn International. He has also held roles at GAM, where he was managing director and Japan CEO, and Merrill Lynch, where he was Japan head of consultant marketing and product management, as well as Sakura Asset Management and Mitsui Bank.

Jessie Pak, managing director for Asia at FTSE Russell, says Ishii’s appointment will help drive the company’s development in Asia Pacific. Officials say Japan is an important market for the index provider. During the past 12 months it launched the FTSE Blossom Japan Index, which in July was selected as a core ESG benchmark by the Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan.