FTI Consulting launched the firm’s corporate finance and restructuring segment in Japan with the appointment of transactions expert Kenneth Smith as a senior managing director in Tokyo. The addition of the corporate finance and restructuring segment in Japan bolsters the firm’s existing capabilities in strategic communications and technology.
Smith brings more than 35 years of consulting and transaction advisory experience across several industries, including technology, media and telecom, energy and manufacturing. His areas of expertise are in post-merger integration, deal strategy and commercial due diligence. Smith began his career assisting Japanese companies with their U.S. investments and divestitures, and subsequently assisted multinationals in Japan with their investments and operational improvement initiatives. In his new role, he will focus on building on-the-ground capabilities for end-to-end transaction solutions, business transformation and restructuring in Japan.
The corporate finance and restructuring segment at FTI Consulting advises on many of the world’s most complex restructurings, turnarounds, transformations and transactions, helping companies and their stakeholders address major financial, operational and transactional challenges.
Establishing a corporate finance and restructuring presence in Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, will enable FTI Consulting experts to better assist Japan-headquartered clients to expand outside their domestic markets, as well as address the renewed interest by Western multinationals that view Japan as a stable market in the Asia region.
“I am delighted to welcome Ken, who brings deep industry expertise to FTI Consulting,” Vincent Fok, head of Asia corporate finance and restructuring at FTI Consulting, said. “The launch of our corporate finance and restructuring segment in Japan represents the next milestone in the growth of FTI Consulting’s footprint into another key financial market. Ken is highly regarded within the market and will be a great asset – it is my pleasure to welcome him to the team.”
Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Smith held leadership positions at various firms, most recently running the inbound and outbound trade networks for the Americas region. Before this role, Smith was the managing partner of the transaction advisory practice at a firm in Japan, where he served on the global board. He has also led the sales and strategy operations for a global telecommunications and data center firm owned by a private equity firm.
“I am delighted to join FTI Consulting at what is a key period of transformational growth for the business as the firm continues to expand across Asia,” Smith said. “In particular, I look forward to focusing on building our corporate finance and restructuring capabilities in Japan and growing our transactions practice, working with colleagues across our global network to support our clients seeking advisory services in Japan and for Japanese companies that have needs overseas.”
