Mesirow Opens Tokyo Office, Hires Two Senior Executives to Target Japanese Institutional Investors — Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.

Event summary

Mesirow Financial Holdings opened a Tokyo office on April 8, 2026, to expand its Asia-Pacific presence.
Manabu Ogi and Katsuya Fukushima were appointed as Managing Directors to lead the new office.
Ogi will head Capital Formation and Currency Solutions, while Fukushima will lead Sales in Japan.
The firm aims to serve Japanese institutional investors across private equity, alternative credit, and real estate.
Mesirow's Private Capital and Currency businesses manage $224.9 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

The big picture

Mesirow's expansion into Japan reflects a broader trend of Western financial firms targeting Asia-Pacific's growing institutional investment market. The move comes as Japanese investors increasingly seek alternative asset classes to diversify portfolios amid low interest rates. With $224.9 billion in AUM, Mesirow is positioning itself to compete with established players like Mitsui & Co. and Man Group in a market known for its sophisticated investors.

What we're watching

Regulatory Approval: Whether Mesirow can secure necessary licenses from Japan's Financial Services Agency to fully operate in the market.
Market Penetration: The pace at which Mesirow can attract Japanese institutional investors given the competitive landscape.
Execution Risk: How effectively Ogi and Fukushima can leverage their industry relationships to grow Mesirow's AUM in Japan.