WisdomTree Announces Plans for Japan Office and Hires Market Veteran Jesper Koll
Taps Former Managing Director of Research at J.P. Morgan in Japan
TOKYO and NEW YORK, July 01, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ:WETF), an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager, today announced the planned opening of a new office in Tokyo and the appointment of Jesper Koll as Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree subsidiary WisdomTree Japan K.K., to lead the development of WisdomTree’s business in Japan. WisdomTree Japan K.K. is currently applying for requisite regulatory business registrations and hopes to commence its business later this year.
At this time, WisdomTree does not plan either to create any domestic ETFs in Japan, or to cross list any offshore ETFs or ETPs in Japan.
Prior to joining WisdomTree, Mr. Koll was Chief Japan Equity Strategist and Managing Director of Japan Equity Research at J.P. Morgan in Japan. Previously, he held senior economist and strategist positions at Merrill Lynch and the Tiger Fund in Japan. He has held a seat on several Japanese government advisory committees and is one of the few non-Japanese members of the Keizai Doyukai, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
WisdomTree, with more than $63 billion in assets under management, is presently the 6th largest ETP sponsor in the world. WisdomTree offers ETPs covering domestic, international and global equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and alternative strategies. WisdomTree manages approximately $19 billion in Japan-focused strategies and is a leader in dividend-weighted “Smart Beta” ETFs.
“The appointment of someone of Jesper’s caliber and accomplishment demonstrates the significance with which we are pursuing this opportunity in Japan. Jesper is a distinguished and deeply committed Japan market expert with valuable relationships and insights amassed over his nearly three decades of local experience,” said WisdomTree CEO and President Jonathan Steinberg.
Mr. Koll said “Japan is evolving rapidly as an investment market and Japanese investors are looking for new investment solutions. WisdomTree has been highly successful in developing the ETF market in the U.S. and elsewhere with its product suite of Japanese, U.S. and international equity and fixed income exposures. WisdomTree is a firm of thoughtful, research-driven investment solutions and I am excited to help bring this story to Japan.”
About WisdomTree
WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and alternative strategies. WisdomTree currently has approximately $63.7 billion in assets under management globally.
WisdomTree® is the marketing name for WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.
Contact Information: WisdomTree Investments, Inc. Stuart Bell / Jessica Zaloom +1.917.267.3702 / +1.917.267.3735 sbell@wisdomtree.com / jzaloom@wisdomtree.com Japan Ashton Consulting John Sunley / Lois Christie +81 3-5425-7220 WisdomTreePR@ashton.jp
Released July 1, 2015