Founders and Representative Partners

Toshiaki Kitayama, Co-Founder and Representative Partner. Mr. Kitayama studied at Kyoto University and graduated with a BA in Law and Politics. He then spent thirteen years with Kawasaki Heavy Industries where his early experience included responsibility for technical licensing projects overseas and the formation of export marketing policy. He assumed responsibility of the development of marketing and investment relating to the foundation of Kawasaki subsidiaries in the USA, the UK, Germany, France and Australia. Mr. Kitayama was then posted to the UK as Executive Senior Vice President of the newly incorporated subsidiary, Kawasaki Motors (UK) Ltd., where he developed the company from the outset. Mr. Kitayama was responsible for the creation and on-going management of the Kawasaki Motors Pan-European Marketing Committee and subsequently established subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies in Germany, France and Netherlands. Subsequently, Mr. Kitayama founded, and has lead MACC Inc., for over 20 years, as one of the most established Japanese independent M&A advisory firms. Mr. Kitayama is also Representative Partner of CIP Technology Partners LLC, an industrial and technology development company, as well as serving as a Director and Board Member of Infinity Asset Management KK, a Japanese fund management firm.

Allan Jardine, Co-Founder and Representative Partner. Mr Jardine arrived in Japan as Representative of a UK based venture capital funded Biotech firm founded by senior GlaxoWellcome executives. He then worked for Siemens in Japan in a strategic role for regarding incubation and implementation of new business and acquisitions. Following this he worked for Kessler Group, a specialist US investment bank where he managed their Asian expansion. Mr. Jardine founded, and is the Principal of Altitude Partners LLC, a Tokyo-based corporate advisory firm which works with firms in the areas of restructuring, due diligence, turnaround as well post acquisition integration, and orchestrates projects for major blue chip foreign companies and private equity firms in Japan. Mr. Jardine serves as a board member of CIP Technology Partners LLC, an industrial and technology development company as well as acting as a Director and Board Member of Infinity Asset Management KK, a Japanese fund management firm. Mr. Jardine is a regular commentator in the international media on Japanese, Asian and global economic and business related issues. Mr. Jardine holds a BA in Asian Business and an MBA from Warwick Business School (UK), has studied at Sophia (Tokyo) as well as at CEIBS (Shanghai) and is a graduate of the European Commission ETP Programme.