Jesper Koll

Jesper Koll became a resident of Japan in 1986 and has since dedicated his career to researching and investing in the country’s economic landscape. Over two decades, he gained recognition as a top Japan strategist and economist, holding significant positions such as Chief Strategist and Head of Research for U.S. investment banks J.P. Morgan and Merrill Lynch. His expertise has led to his current role as Expert Director for the Monex Group and the Japan Catalyst Fund, the latter being Japan’s first retail investor-based corporate engagement/activist fund. He contributes to several Japanese government and corporate advisory committees, including Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s Advisory Board.

His career progression also includes serving as Senior Advisor for WisdomTree Investment Inc. and becoming a Global Ambassador for Tokyo’s Financial Center initiative in 2022. Koll is a member of the Board of Governor of OIST (Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology) and is a Founder and Board Director of the Asia Society Japan, where he heads their Policy Committee. He is one of the few non-Japanese members of the Keizai Doyukai, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, and sits on the board of several Japan-based start-ups. His insights include authoring three books in Japanese and launching the video/podcast series “Japan – Capitalism that works” in 2021.

Koll’s extensive experience also covers leadership roles at SG Warburg Securities Japan as Managing Director & Chief Economist from 1989 to 1994, and similar roles at JP Morgan Japan Securities, Tiger Fund Investment Management, and Merrill Lynch Japan Securities. He also served as CEO of Tantallon Research Japan and WisdomTree Japan Inc, before taking on advisory roles. His educational background includes research fellowships at Tokyo University and Kyoto University, and a Master’s in International Relations & Economics from The Johns Hopkins University SAIS.