Team

Team with experience and expertise

“Whizzo” specialists with proven track records have got together to form Whiz Partners Inc. By uniting its members’ experience and expertise, Whiz Partners will develop and implement innovative, feasible investment strategies.

Representative Director

Ando

Toshio AndoChairman & Representative Director

2024: Chairman of the board (to present)
2021: Chairman, Member of the board
2011: Founder, Whiz Partners Inc.
2006: Chairman, Japan Securities Dealers Association Adviser, Nomura Asset Management Co.,Ltd.
2003: Chairman, The Investment Trusts Association, Japan
2002: Chairman and Representative Executive Officer, Nomura Asset Management Co.,Ltd.
2001: Director and Member of the Board, Nomura Holdings, Inc.
2000: Executive Managing Director, Nomura Securities Co.,Ltd.

President & CEO, CIO

Fujisawa

Tomoyuki FujisawaPresident & CEO, CIO, Member of the Board

2024: Member of the board, President & CEO, CIO Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2024: Member of the board, CIO Whiz Partners Inc.
2021: Member of the board, CIO, Co-COO Whiz Partners Inc.
2012: Managing Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2011: Senior Director, Research Alliance Office, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(“Takeda”)
2008: Senior Director, Global Licensing and Business Development, Takeda
2005: Senior Manager, Global Licensing and Business Development, Takeda
2001: Manger, Scientific Evaluation, Takeda　
Seconded to Takeda Ventures, Inc. in the U.S. for 2 years (Founding member of Takeda Ventures, Inc.)
1996: Senior Researcher, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda
1992: Researcher, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda

Investment Team

Takeda

Hiroshi TakedaManaging Director

2021: Managing Director, Whiz Partners Inc.(to present)
2016: Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2014: Manager, REANDA INTERNATIONAL LLKG
2011: Mirai Consulting Inc.
2009: Executive Officer, RH Traveler Corp.
2007: CEO, Asian Eight Corp.
2007: Head of business strategy division, Red Horse Corporation
2000: Takihyo Co., Ltd.

Hasegawa

Yuki HasegawaPh.D. Head of Healthcare Investment

2021: Head of Healthcare Investment, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2019: Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2016: Associate Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2014: Researcher , Asahi KASEI
2013: Deputy Team Leader, Center for Life Science Technologies,RIKEN
2010: Research Scientist, Omics Science Center, RIKEN, Visiting Assistant Professor, YCU
2008: Postdoctoral Fellow, Omics Science Center,RIKEN
2007: Researcher, Genome Science Center, RIKEN

Fujioto

Hiroshi FujiotoManaging Director

2017: Managing Director, Whiz Partners Inc.(to present)
2008: Executive Portfolio Manager, DIAM Co.,Ltd.
1998: Head of currency options, The Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd.
1983: The Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd.

Wada

Seiichiro WadaManaging Director

2023: Managing Director, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2017: Audit & Supervisory Board Member, Nomura Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2015: Senior Managing Director, Nomura Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2013: Managing Director, International Sales & Marketing, Nomura Real Estate Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2008: Managing Director, Real Estate Investment, Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
1986: Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

Seino

Mitsuru SeinoManaging Director

2024: Managing Director, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2019: General Manager (Japan President), Colorcon Inc.
2015: Regional Sales Director, Catalent Japan
2006: Representative Director, Omnicare Clinical Research
2001: Brand Manager, Masterfoods Limited (Mars)
2000: General Manager, President Office, IBRD JAPAN Co.
1992: Fine-chemical Department, MITSUI & CO., LTD.

Masayuki IiPhD, Chief Scientific Officer

2022: CSO, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2022: CSO & Head, Applied Regulatory Science, Axcelead DDP. (to present)
2017: Head, Integrated Biology, Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc.(Axcelead DDP)
2012: Head, Inflammation Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda
2008: Associate Director, Global Research Management Office, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda
2006: Senior Research Manager, Takeda Global Research and Development Center (US)
2004: Associate Director, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda
2003: Visiting Scientist, Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute (US)
1990: Research Scientist, Research and Development Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Takeda”)

Suzuki

Takahiro SuzukiPh.D. Director

2022: Director, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2022: Visiting Senior Scientist, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (to present)
2019: Visiting Associate Professor, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University (to present)
2019: Senior Research Scientist, RIKEN Integrative Medical Sciences
2012: Research Scientist, RIKEN Omics Science Center
2009: Research Fellow, RIKEN Omics Science center
2003: Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Senior Master Sergeant

Sasaki

Mitsuo TakahashiDirector

2024: Director, Whiz Partners Inc.(to present)
2022: Sales Manager of Saitama Sales Office, ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
2017: Sales Manager of North Kanto Sales Office 2, ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
2002: TEIKOKU HORMONE MFG. CO., LTD. (ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)

Sho OeDirector

2024: Director, Whiz Partners Inc.（to present）
2023: Accenture Japan Ltd
2022: General Manager, Brand Strategy Department, ALBERT Inc.
2019: ALBERT Inc.
2010: AD Investment Management Co.,Ltd. (ITOCHU REIT Management Co.,Ltd.)
2008: Pacific Management Co., Ltd.

Transaction Management

Tatsuya YamadaGeneral manager transaction management division

2021: General manager transaction management division (to present)
2014: Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2012: Associate Director, Whiz Partners Inc.
2010: Associate, Whiz Partners Inc.
2009: Joined CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.
2008: Joined CSK Institute for Sustainability, Ltd.
2004: Manager, Medical Project Department, Link Consulting Associates Japan Corporation
2003: Joined Link Consulting Associates Japan Corporation

Member of the board

kochi

Tatsuro KochiChief Compliance Officer, Member of the Board

2024: Whiz Partners Inc. Appointed Member of the board
2022: Whiz Partners Inc. Resigned Member of the board
2010: Whiz Partners Inc. Appointed Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
2008: Chief Compliance Officer, Counselor of the company
2003: Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. Executive Officer Compliance Officer
1974: Joined Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

Satoru IinoMember of the Board

2024: Member of the Board, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2024: President & CEO Whiz Partners Inc.
2024: Member of the board, COO, Co-CIO, CFO Whiz Partners Inc.
2021: Member of the board, COO, Co-CIO Whiz Partners Inc.
2015: Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer Whiz Partners Inc.
2013: Head of Investment Management, Chief Investment Officer Whiz Partners Inc.
2010: Managing Director, Whiz Partners, Inc.
2004: Board Member, CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.
2000: Senior Manager, CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.
1989: Hitachi, Ltd.

Administration

Junichi Kajimoto CFO, Member of the Board

2010: Incumbent Director CFO of Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2004: Executive Director of Whiz Partners Inc.
2000: Faith, Inc., Accounting Division Manager, Business Administration Department
1995: Toshiba Plant Construction Co., Ltd.Joined (currently Toshiba Plant System Co., Ltd.)

Takashi YamaguchiGeneral Manager, Administration dept.

2021: General Manager, Administration dept. Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2011: Administration Manager, Whiz Partners Inc.
2010: General Manager, Administration dept. CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.
1997: Legal Manager, Administration Development dept. CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.
1995: Investment Development dept. CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.

Yamauchi

Takeshi YamauchiAdministration Manager

2021: Administration Manager, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2016: Head of Administration group, Asset Management One Co.,Ltd.
2015: Senior Executive Officer, Deputy Head of Planning Group, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2010: Executive officer, General Manager of HR Department, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd
2007: General Manager of Investment risk management Department, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2006: General Manager of Compliance Department, Daiichi Kangyo Asset Management Co.,Ltd.
2004: General Manager of Investment Planning Department, Daiichi Kangyo Asset Management Co.,Ltd.
1987: Equity Analyst, Portfolio manager, Asahi Investment Trust Management Co.,Ltd.

Komeda

Yoshiki KomedaAdministration Manager

2024: Administration Manager, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2018: General Manager of Administration Department, MI Digital Service Co., Ltd.
2016: Accounting Manager, Asset Management One Co., Ltd.
2010: General Manager of Administration Department, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd.
2007: Assistant General Manager of Business Management Department, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd.
1997: Fund Manager, Pension Fund Management Department, and Senior Trader, Trading Control Department, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd.
1995: Analyst, Research Department, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd.
1989: Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd.

Nishida

Tomoko NishidaAccounting Manager

2010: Accounting Manager, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2004: CSK Venture Capital Co.,Ltd.

Mizusawa

Noriko MizusawaSecretary Manager

2010: Secretary Manager, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2002: Manager, Enright Real Estate Co., Japan Ltd.

Auditor

Tetsuya KawakamiFull-time Auditor

2015: Auditor, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2011: President of Industry-Academia Joint Committee on Highly Qualified Human Resources in Finance
2009: Visiting Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University Graduate School of Business Strategic Studies
2009: Auditor – Secretary of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management
2007: Principal of Panasonic Accounting University Kansai Economic Federation councilor
2007: CFO Association Japan director
2006: Executive Vice President of Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd.(current Panasonic Corporation )

Takashi EjiriAuditor

2017: Senior Partner, ITN Partners (to present)
2015: Member of the board, Whiz Partners (to present)
2007: Founding Partner, Nishimura Asahi LPC
2005: Auditor of The SBI Children’s Hope Foundation
1995: Secretary General of Inter-Pacific Bar Association
1986: Japan Federation of Bar Associations (served as Vice-Chairman, International Relations Committee)
1977: Establish Masuda and Ejiri Law Office
1969: Certified as an attorney

Tatsuya NakajimaAuditor (Certified Public Accountant)

2023: TAIHO PHARMACEUTICAL CO.,LTD. (to present)
2021: Auditor, Whiz Partners Inc. (to present)
2020: Auditor CBC Co.,Ltd. (to present)
2020: President, Tatsuya Nakajima CPA Office (to present)
2016: Serve concurrently in Audit & Assurance Services Division, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC and Internal Audit Office, Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC
2007: Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC
1995: Registration of Certified Public Accountant
1990: Joined to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC