The 2013 Tech 50: Yasuki Okai

Asia beckons many institutions to its fast-growing emerging markets, but the region’s vastness and complexity have confounded more than a few of them. Tokyo-based Nomura Research Institute, which began as a think tank associated with Nomura Securities International and has been in the IT solutions business since 1988, has developed a unique combination of services and expertise that eases market entry and operations for its clients. “Our mission is not only to provide IT solutions but also services, support and guidance,” explains Yasuki Okai, 50, head of the financial technology solution division of ¥364 billion ($3.6 billion)–in-revenue NRI. With the institute since 1988, Okai oversees a research and development staff of 150 in London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore working on innovations to serve buy- and sell-side clients including Nomura Securities, which accounts for 27 percent of revenue. “NRI has strong lines of communication with regulators as well as our clients’ business lines,” says Okai. “We invest heavily in understanding industry trends and demands so NRI can provide the best client support and solutions.” A current priority, in light of  Japanese customers’ global expansion, is “supporting cross-border trading infrastructure,” Okai adds. With Japanese investment funds increasingly administered outside Japan, “the market needs flexible systems, and NRI offers a solution that bridges this gap.”