In one of the hottest commercial property markets, AXA Investment Managers has hired from its rivals for the position of Head of Japan. With the 2020 Olympic Games on the horizon Asian funds have been flowing into Japanese real estate.
With immediate effect Yoshihiko Hayafuji takes on the position as Head of Japan for AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets (AXA IM - Real Assets).
Hayafuji (pictured) has over 15 years’ experience operating in the Japanese real estate and corporate finance sectors, having worked for some of Japan’s leading financial institutions across the investment, fund management, broking and valuation disciplines.
In his role, he will be responsible for the overall management of the AXA IM - Real Assets’ office in Japan, overseeing all transactions, business operations, capital raising and development activity, in addition to further promoting AXA IM - Real Assets’ capabilities amongst domestic and overseas investors.
He joins AXA IM - Real Assets from the U.K.'s Grosvenor Japan Branch, a subsidiary of the global property group, where he served successively as Director of Fund Management, responsible for managing three funds and then as Director of Investment, responsible for all aspects of the investment cycle.
Larger Asian Footprint
Prior to that, he worked at Aetos Japan on the valuation team, overseeing real estate valuation for the fund acquisitions. He began his career at Nomura Real Estate.
In his new position Hayafuji will report directly to Frank Khoo, Global Head of Asia.
The appointment is an integral part of AXA IM - Real Assets’ ongoing strategy to significantly enhance its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, providing investors with best-in-class fund and asset management capabilities.
In Asia, AXA IM - Real Assets has offices in Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, the latter its primary fund management hub in the region.
