Bain & Company appoints Shintaro Okuno as new APAC managing partner
Global strategy and management consulting firm Bain & Company has appointed Tokyo-based leader Shintaro Okuno as its new managing partner for the Asia Pacific, succeeding Satish Shankar after six years.
Leader of the local firm’s advanced manufacturing & services practice, Okuno has been with Bain & Company for more than two decades, including seven years as managing partner for Japan to 2021, after which he was appointed chair.
Shankar has meanwhile served as Asia Pacific managing partner since 2019, at the time taking over from Sydney-sider Dale Cottrell as part of the management consulting firm’s policy of rotational ‘servant leadership’ and succession planning.
“I’m excited for Shintaro to step into this role and continue building on what the Asia Pacific team has achieved,” stated recently re-elected worldwide managing partner Christophe De Vusser. “Shintaro brings a deep connection to this region and a clear sense of purpose to the role, and is known for his inclusive style, calm presence, and sharp client instincts.”
An expert in M&A matters such as post-merger integration and growth and turnaround strategies, Okuno has advised clients across a wide range of industries since joining Bain from the Central Japan Railway Company in 2003, including those operating in the private equity, pharmaceuticals, consumer, automobile, construction, industrial goods, and finance sectors among others
“I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence the firm’s leaders have placed on me and look forward to partnering with our APAC teams to deliver exceptional results in meaningful ways,” stated Okuno, who is expected to now split his time between Tokyo and Singapore and is currently working closely with Shankar on the transition.
As is customary following such hand-overs at Bain, Shankar himself will return to a client advisory role, with previous time spent within the firm’s energy, transportation, and consumer divisions. De Vusser praised Shankar for his five years as leader, including steering the firm through the pandemic years and expansion into new markets including the Philippines and Vietnam.
“It’s been an immensely fulfilling journey to lead Bain APAC through a period of profound change and opportunity,” Shankar said. “I’ve been inspired by the resilience and innovation of our teams and the transformative impact we’ve made with our clients. I now look forward to re-engaging with clients to tackle their most pressing challenges and unlock bold growth.”
Okuno’s appointment follows Bain’s recent managing partner transition in Australia, with Mohit Wadan taking over from Peter Stumbles in April, and coincides with the appointment of Yasushi Sasaki as APAC chair at rival BCG. Accenture likewise turned to Tokyo when selecting new Asia Pacific co-CEOs last year, while Oliver Wyman and Kearney have also recently appointed new regional heads.
