Fukushima is replacing Shinichi Kawano, who has decided to leave the firm to pursue other interests, the firm’s spokeswoman told FSA.
The firm will continue to “make strategic hires to further build out [its] active investments team in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Japan team”, the spokeswoman added.
Fukushima has 28 years of investment experience, according to a statement.
Before joining Blackrock, he was CIO for GI Capital Management’s investment advisory group, where he focused on global alternative products for pension clients.
Prior to that, he was CIO at various asset management companies in Japan, such as Meiji Yasuda Asset Management and Deutsche Trust Bank, and senior fund manager at Nikko Asset Management.
Belinda Boa, head of active investments for Asia-Pacific, said she believes Fukushima will help enhance the firm’s investment strategy platform in the region and strengthen its thought leadership in Japan.
Japan’s institutional investors have invested $1bn Blackrock’s fixed-income ETFs since January 29, when the Bank of Japan announced a negative interest rate policy, according to a Bloomberg report.
Blackrock also has two Japan mutual funds available for sale in Asia, the Japan small and mid-cap opportunities and Japan flexible equity products:
