KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd has appointed Kazumasa Mise as its chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors, effective Oct 16, 2020, following approval from Securities Commission Malaysia.

In a statement today, Rakuten Trade said Mise replaces Kaoru Arai, who was the managing director of Rakuten Trade since its launch in May 2017.

It said Arai was responsible for the company being named FinTech Company of the Year in 2018 and for steering the company in achieving profitability in less than three years.

The firm said Arai will be assuming the role of director of international business and will lead Rakuten Trade’s efforts in its regional expansion.

Rakuten Trade chairman Datuk Chay Wai Leong said in a year of unprecedented global uncertainties amidst the current pandemic that resulted in stock market volatilities, Mise has been instrumental in leading the onboarding of a record number of new retail investors.

“We are confident that he will lead Rakuten Trade in its next chapter of growth,” said Chay.

Rakuten Trade is a joint venture between Rakuten Securities Inc (RSec) in Japan and Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd, and the only completely digital equities broker in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, RSec president Yuji Kusunoki said in the last three years, Mise has been able to successfully blend best practices from both companies under one successful brand — Rakuten Trade.

“He is supported by a strong management team and with an extensive Fintech and Digitalization knowledge in equity trading and asset management from RSec, the next few years should prove to be exciting,” he said.

Mise was previously Rakuten Trade’s head of business marketing before becoming its chief marketing officer.

Prior to Rakuten Trade, he was with RSec for 13 years where he honed his expertise in Japanese equities’ business, focusing on boosting margin trading and exchange-traded fund (ETF).

He holds a Bachelor of Science (Finance and Economics) from the Syracuse University, New York, USA.