Rothschild & Co., a French-based investment bank, has hired Yuichi Akai as vice chair for Japan.

Akai previously spent nearly four decades at Daiwa Securities Group Inc. where he held roles as senior managing director and the co-lead of its global investment banking division. The Paris-based investment bank hired Akai to expand its Japan business and grow its team in the country, reported Bloomberg News.

“Japan is a strategic market for Rothschild in Asia,” comments Jerome Finck, head of Japan for Rothschild & Co., according to Bloomberg. “We see strong potential in the Japan market, and we are acting accordingly. When it comes to business flow, we have a healthy pipeline.”