Leadership
LeadershipManagement Team & Advisors
Management TeamManagement Team
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CEO / Representative Partner (Singapore, Tokyo)Susumu Tsubaki -
Partner (Shanghai)Hideya Tanaka -
Partner (Singapore, Tokyo)Shohei Namba -
Director (Singapore)Shigeru Handa -
Principal (Tokyo)Ayako Kitano -
Principal (Tokyo)Yukihiko Sugimura -
Principal (Kenya)Hiroki Ishida
AdvisorsSenior Advisors
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Senior Adviser (Africa Representative)Yoshiyuki Sato -
Senior AdviserHiroshi Ishino -
Senior AdviserKazunari Uchida -
Senior AdviserMasayuki Tamagawa -
Senior AdviserSusumu Nakajima -
Senior AdviserIsamu Ochiai -
Africa Healthcare AdviserDr. Amit N. Thakker -
Senior AdvisorTakashi Hattori -
Senior AdvisorToshiaki Hirose -
Senior AdvisorKenji Sekine
Susumu Tsubaki
CEO / Representative Partner (Singapore, Tokyo)
Founded AAIC in 2008. Former BCG Partner & Managing Director with 15 years of consulting in hi-tech, telecom, internet, and media. Established AAIC Investment (fund management) in 2013. Manages Africa Healthcare Funds with 62 cumulative investments. MBA Professor at Business Breakthrough University. Co-authored "Hyper-accelerated Africa Economy."
Hideya Tanaka
Partner (Shanghai)
Involved in China business launches since 2002 at Recruit Co., Ltd., building advertising media and HR businesses from scratch across 3 cities, 3 businesses, 5 entities, and 300+ employees. Co-founded AAIC in 2008. Focuses on business strategy, marketing, and operations across Greater China and Southeast Asia.
Shohei Namba
Partner (Singapore, Tokyo)
Head of AAIC Japan since 2019. Previously at IBM Japan (global supply chain projects, India assignment) and GREE, Inc. (global platform development, US assignment). Expertise in overseas expansion, digital transformation, M&A, and growth strategy execution.
Shigeru Handa
Director (Singapore)
20+ years in business development and international development. Former JBIC (Latin America infrastructure), BCG (portfolio reform, retail, pharma), Natural Lawson (brand strategy), and 8 years at UNDP Iraq (infrastructure, private sector development). Board member of multiple startups.
Ayako Kitano
Principal (Tokyo)
Joined 2012 from Hoshino Resorts. Previously at Boston Consulting Group. Specializes in consumer insights, marketing strategy, branding, and sustainability strategy. End-to-end support from survey design to insight extraction and implementation.
Yukihiko Sugimura
Principal (Tokyo)
Founded Daybreak Consulting. Former roles: Apple Japan (product planner), BCG (telecom, marketing reform), Fujitsu (M&A due diligence). Kanagawa Prefecture advisor for 8 years (PR strategy, healthcare). Hands-on consulting across renewable energy and healthcare.
Hiroki Ishida
Principal (Kenya)
Started career at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking (corporate banking, HR team leader). Joined Accenture Japan post-MBA. Expertise in finance, VC, healthcare, and emerging market operations.
Yoshiyuki Sato
Senior Adviser (Africa Representative)
Worked at Toray in Kenya (1966-1970). Founded Kenya Nuts Company in 1974, built into Kenya's largest nuts enterprise with 4,000+ employees and $50M revenue over 35 years. Established Rwanda Nut Company in 2012.
Hiroshi Ishino
Senior Adviser
Former Mitsubishi Corporation executive in automotive sector (Middle East, China, Thailand). Kansai Paint Managing Director, then President & CEO; proposed worldwide expansion strategy including Africa.
Kazunari Uchida
Senior Adviser
Former Waseda Business School professor. BCG senior VP and Japan representative (2000-2004). Named "25 Leading Consultants Worldwide" (2006). Author of numerous business strategy books.
Masayuki Tamagawa
Senior Adviser
Ministry of Finance career since 1981. Held positions at IMF, ADB, AfDB, and Japan Tobacco. Currently Professor and Managing Director at Kogakuin University.
Susumu Nakajima
Senior Adviser
30+ years in electronics manufacturing (Japan/China). Former Panasonic executive and president of Panasonic China operations. Currently special advisor to Sichuan Changhong.
Isamu Ochiai
Senior Adviser
Former Lawson corporate officer. As General Manager of Shanghai Hualian Lawson, achieved profitability and tripled shop count. 30+ years retail industry experience across Daiei, Natural Lawson, and Hokka Hokka Tei.
Dr. Amit N. Thakker
Africa Healthcare Adviser
30+ years in healthcare delivery and financing. Executive Chairman, Africa Health Business. Chairman, Africa Healthcare Federation. Managed healthcare services and insurance operations in Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa.
Takashi Hattori
Senior Advisor
Led Toyota Tsusho's African operations. Executed major acquisitions including CFAO (France, 2012, ¥234.5B). Former Senior Vice President and first Head of Africa Division. Ambassador to Sudan (2020-2023).
Toshiaki Hirose
Senior Advisor
Former professional rugby player and Japan national team captain (2012-2014). Founded HiRAKU Inc. focusing on sports, education, and community co-creation. Appeared in TV drama "No Side Game" during 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Kenji Sekine
Senior Advisor
Career spanning Industrial Bank of Japan, Willis Towers Watson (pension consulting, M&A), and Marsh McLennan (group strategy). Chair of IAA Membership Assistance Committee (2025), leading actuarial capacity building in emerging markets.