Aon has named Masahito (Max) Hirai as chief executive officer of its Japan business, effective 30 June 2026, pending regulatory approval, the global broker announced on Wednesday. He succeeds Tatsuya Yamamoto, who will stay on in an advisory role to support the transition.
Hirai has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance sector and joins from Tokio Marine, where he has held roles in Japan and senior posts across South America, North America, and Asia, most recently as chief executive for the Asia region, leading life and non-life businesses across Southeast Asia and India.
In his new role, he will report to Qin Lu, head of North Asia, and join the North Asia leadership team.
“Max brings deep market insight, strong leadership capability. and a clear focus on clients,” Lu said. “His global business experience and collaborative leadership style position him well to build on our strong momentum in Japan and advance our Aon United strategy.”
Hirai’s appointment is the latest in a series of key leadership hires by Aon across the region this year, including Karl Hamann as Philippines chief executive, Richard Tan and Maggie Hsieh, who now lead commercial strategy for Southeast Asia and North Asia, and the expansion of Daniel England’s role to as head of APAC casualty treaty on the reinsurance side of the business.
