Nikko Asset Management, the Japan-based investment firm, has made two senior appointments for its Tokyo headquarters.

Hideo Abe has been named to the newly-created role of executive vice chairman to help enhance the firm's executive-level marketing capability both locally and overseas. Abe was most recently an advisor at Mizuho Securities, where he served as deputy president from 2008 to 2013. Prior to that, he was a board member at Nikko Citigroup, where he was chief executive from 2004 to 2008. 

He begins 1 October 2013.

Also newly appointed is Mitsuaki Hasegawa as chief compliance officer and head of the compliance department, effective 7 October. Hasegawa replaces Ross Long, who on the same date moves on to become the chief legal officer at the firm.

Nikko Asset Management, majority owned by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, is one of the largest regional asset management firms in Asia with $156 billion in total assets under management as at 30 June 2013. Its footprint across the Asia-Pacific region includes offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. It also has branches in New York and London.