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Chairman, President & CEO

Ikuo YASUDA
  • Before founding Pinnacle, Mr.Yasuda was Country Head of Lehman Brothers Japan and Head of its Investment Banking Division. Prior to the above, he served as Managing Director of General Electric International (Japan), in charge of business development, and at the Long Term Credit Bank of Japan, executing domestic and cross-border M&A. He has more than 35 years of M&A experience
  • Mr.Yasuda frequently appears as an M&A expert on television programs, in published media and at industry conferences. He has taught corporate strategy at Kyushu University, Tama University of Japan, the Switzerland-based business school IMD and Hitotsubashi University as a visiting professor and lecturer
  • Hitotsubashi University BA
  • Concurrently serves as Chairman at Pinnacle TT Solution Inc

Chairman, President & CEO

Satoru SERA
  • Former Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Executive Director Prior to the above,experience in a wide range of financial businesses at MUFG Bank (Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities (seconded), Corporate Finance Sales Department, New York Branch, Australian subsidiary, etc.)
  • Arthur D. Little School of Management MBA, and Kobe University BA

Senior Managing Director

Jeffrey SMITH
  • Previously served in the Equities Division of Goldman Sachs
  • Prior to the above, experience in the M&A Group and Financial Sponsors Group of UBS, focusing on cross - border M&A transactions. Experience in the M&A Group of Credit Suisse First Boston
  • Yale University BA

Managing Director

Tomohiko SHIBATA
  • Prior experience at Shinsei Bank (M&A advisory in life science and health care)
  • At Pinnacle, M&A track record in a broad range of sectors
  • Hosei University MS
Tomoyuki IZUMI
  • Previous experience at GCA Savvian, M&A Group of Lehman Brothers (Tokyo and NY), and M&A Advisory Group of Morgan Stanley Japan, focusing on cross border M&A transactions
  • American University BSBA (magna cum laude)

Executive Director

Shinji KABURAGI
  • Prior experience at Chuo Shinko Audit Corporation (Misuzu Audit Corporation)
  • Certified Public Accountant and Tax Accountant
  • Keio University BA
Masatoshi MORI
  • Previous experience at Tokai Tokyo Securities working in Corporate Finance / Corporate Sales (primarily M&A advisory and IPO)
  • Seikei University MA
  • Exclusively serves at Pinnacle TT Solution Inc

Director

Takeshi SATO
  • Previous experience at Isetan Mitsukoshi Department Store overseas business in London and Kuala Lumpur, and then worked in corporate planning
  • Prior to the above, in charge of Administration/Accounting /Corporate Planning on apparel company
  • Tohoku University BA
Akihiko KANEKO
  • Previous experience at Sanyo Securities working in Corporate Sales, at Ichiyoshi Securities working in Underwriting and Institutional Investor Sales, and then focused on Institutional Investor Sales at Tokai Tokyo Securities before joining Pinnacle
  • Sapporo Gakuin University BA
  • Exclusively serves at Pinnacle TT Solution Inc
Keita SUZUKI
  • Prior experience at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Auditor), Morgan Stanley Japan (Sell-side Analyst), and Nihon M&A Center (advisor for transaction management control)
  • Certified Public Accountant, CFA
  • Kyoto University BA

Associate

Chuanchuan ZHANG
  • Previous experience at Tokyo Boeki Group, specializing in overseas investment, new business development and M&A
  • Prior to the above, worked for Agricultural Development Bank of China, primarily focusing on project finance and structured finance in the infrastructure sector
  • Waseda Business School MBA, Zhejiang University BS

Associate

Takahiro TSURUTA
  • Previous experience at Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory and EY Japan Finance group, focusing on M&A advisory
  • Prior to the above, served in operations and business development at Tokai Tokyo Securities
  • Waseda University School of Commerce BA(Bachelor of Arts)
Yasuo ISHIGURO
  • Previous experience at Tokai Tokyo Securities (M&A advisory in the Corporate Solution Promotion Department)
  • Nagoya University LLB
  • Exclusively serves at Pinnacle TT Solution Inc
Daijiro MASHIKO
  • Began his career at Kinjirushi Co., Ltd., then served at an independent boutique firm focusing on M&A advisory
  • Tamagawa University BS
  • Exclusively serves at Pinnacle TT Solution Inc

Analyst

Ray ELSTON
  • Previous experience in cross-border M&A advisory at a Japanese boutique.
  • Waseda University BA
Yoshifumi HAYASHI
  • Previous experience at MUFG Bank, Ltd. in Corporate Sales
  • Prior to above, in charge of new business development at an IT company
  • Keio University BA
Miyu KIMOTO
  • Previous experience at an ANA Group company at Haneda Airport as ground staff and staff trainer
  • Kwansei Gakuin University BA
Our People