Overview
Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Japan Jobs in Tokyo, Japan at Howden
Title: Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Japan
Company: Howden
Location: Tokyo, Japan
EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
At Howden, we employ talented individuals and empower them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers.
The entrepreneurial atmosphere is one of the biggest reasons people love to work for us. We are a leading independent global insurance broker with a noticeably flat hierarchy. It doesn’t matter how junior or senior, anyone with a good idea will be heard. This means our employees can shape their own career paths and determine their own success.
This atmosphere attracts the brightest talent in the market. If that includes you, get in touch.
A LEADING GLOBAL INDEPENDENT BROKER
Howden is a specialist commercial insurance broker. Its regional footprint covers Singapore (regional headquarters),
Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Japan. It is part of the London-headquartered Howden Broking Group, a leading independent, global broker with offices in over 40 countries worldwide.
THE OPPORTUNITY
A unique opportunity to build and lead the Japan M&A franchise within a global, high-growth organization.
This is not a purely execution-focused role — it is a leadership mandate with full ownership across origination, execution, and post-merger integration.
REPORTING LINE
- Reports to: CEO, Japan (with functional reporting to Global / Regional M&A team)
ROLE IMPACT
You will be responsible for driving inorganic growth in Japan, owning the full M&A lifecycle:
- Build and execute Japan M&A strategy
- Develop and manage deal pipeline
- Lead end-to-end transactions
- Drive post-merger integration and value creation
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Strategy & Origination
- Define and execute Japan M&A strategy
- Build a high-quality deal pipeline
- Develop relationships with key market stakeholders
Execution (Deal Ownership)
- Lead full deal lifecycle: sourcing → closing
- Own valuation, structuring, and negotiations
- Drive internal investment decision-making
Integration (PMI & IT Focus)
- Oversee post-merger integration
- Lead IT diligence (systems / cybersecurity / legacy risks)
- Ensure successful integration of platforms (incl. M365)
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- Strong and sustainable deal pipeline established
- High-quality transactions executed
- Successful integration and value realization
- Strong alignment across Japan and global teams
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Background
- 7+ years in M&A / Investment Banking / Private Equity / Corporate Development
- Proven track record of executing transactions in Japan
- Experience in consulting firm M&A advisory is highly preferred
- Financial services / regulated industry experience is a plus
- Advisory background is highly preferred; however, candidates who also bring hands-on operational or project management experience are strongly encouraged.
Capabilities
- Demonstrates a well-balanced mix of both soft and hard skills, combining strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities with solid technical expertise in M&A execution, financial analysis, and project delivery.
- Brings a practical, execution-oriented mindset, with the ability to move beyond strategy into hands-on delivery, particularly in post-merger integration and value creation.
- Strong ownership mindset
- Strategic thinking with execution rigor
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Ability to operate across global and local environments
- A foundational understanding of legal matters and contract structures is beneficial, though not essential.
Language
- Native or near-native Japanese
- Business-level or fluent English
KEY ATTRIBUTES
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- High accountability and ownership
- Relationship-driven leadership style
- Ability to operate in complexity
- Balanced profile with both strategic thinking and hands-on execution capability (“roll-up-the-sleeves” mindset).
WHY THIS ROLE
- Build a business, not just execute deals
- Direct exposure to CEO and global leadership
- High-impact, high-visibility role
