CEO's Message & Our Corporate Philosophy
Wataru Ogihara
Representative Director,
President and CEO
I am pleased to take this opportunity to introduce myself, I am Wataru Ogihara, President and CEO.
To express my heartfelt gratitude for your trust and support, I would like to focus on some aspects of our business philosophy which I believe are not only beneficial to our business but also, and more importantly, are mutually focused for our customers.
Our company operates under the corporate philosophy, ‘Towards Being the Best Asset Management Firm for Your Better Quality of Life’.
This philosophy essentially aims to focus on commitment to providing the highest quality performance and services to ensure the best interests of investors, while also striving to contribute to the realization of a wider sustainable society through our asset management business.
We value the spirit of continuous challenge under our brand slogan, ‘Be Active.’ This message embodies our two main desires: firstly, to energize society, companies, and individuals through investment; and secondly, to deliver the value and appeal of actively managed funds.
With ‘Be Active.’ at our core, and our Values of ‘Integrity,’ ‘Agility,’ ‘Challenge,’ ‘Passion,’ and ‘Teamwork’ as our guiding principles, each of our employees is dedicated to realizing our philosophy with expertise and enthusiasm.
Moving forwards, we will continue to pursue what is essential for us to remain a trusted and chosen asset management company through all our dedicated employees united in this endeavor.
I sincerely appreciate your continued support for Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company, Limited and look forward to engaging with you more.
April 2025
CEO Biography
Wataru Ogihara is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management (SMDAM) from April 2025. He joined SMDAM as Head of Investment in 2023. He has over 30 years of asset management industry experiences with SMDAM and Nomura Asset Management holding major positions in the investment and research.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission & Vision
Towards Being the Best Asset Management Firm
For Your Better Quality of Life.
We, as professionals, focus on:
Delivering the best-in-class investment performance, while maintaining
the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility to our clients,
Contributing to a diversified and sustainable society through our investment activities.
To these ends, we commit ourselves to:
Aiming for collective growth, based on a respectful understanding of all stakeholders,
Creating a flexible working environment that allows all employees to reach their full potential.
Our Values
Integrity
Customers' interests first
We act in a fair and responsive manner by placing customers’ interests as our priority to become their most trusted partner.
Agility
Time - strategic resources
We address issues in a time-conscious manner to deliver
new products and services to our customers earlier than peers.
Challenge
Confront the status quo
We challenge norms by exploring extraordinary products,
services, and processes in pursuit of the highest standard of investment management services.
Passion
Strive for an extra basis point
We dedicate ourselves to improving investment performance and business efficiency across all business areas.
Teamwork
Tackle conflict head-on
in pursuit of value
We embrace diversity of views and ideas,
and make collective efforts to
achieve what cannot be done by one person alone.
