Howden Expands in Japan with Foresight Acquisition and New Leadership

18 Sep, 2024

Howden Expands in Japan with Foresight Acquisition and New Leadership

Howden, a UK insurance broker, has expanded into Japan by acquiring Foresight Holdings, marking its entry into the Japanese retail insurance broking market and captive consulting services. This acquisition also includes Foresight’s captive management operations in Micronesia, Singapore, and Hawaii. Foresight, based in Tokyo, has a team of 17 staff across six offices and provides services to 13 major Japanese corporations.

In conjunction with this acquisition, Howden appointed Takuya Aibe as the CEO of its retail operations in Japan. Aibe brings over 20 years of experience, having held senior roles at Marsh Japan and most recently as CEO of Gallagher Japan.

The acquisition strengthens Howden’s presence in Japan, following its entry into the market with the launch of Howden Re Japan in 2024. Kentaro Tada, CEO of Howden Japan, sees this partnership as a significant step forward, allowing the company to offer retail broking and captive management services alongside its reinsurance and insurance-linked securities (ILS) capabilities.

Foresight CEO Kenichiro Hamada stated that joining Howden is a pivotal growth opportunity, enabling both companies to enhance client service and develop a stronger market presence in Japan’s fragmented captive management sector.