This is a profile image of Chihiro Kato

Chihiro Kato

PartnerTokyo

Advises electronics and semiconductor companies on corporate and business strategy, as well as M&A and alliances including merger and acquisition strategy and target search, due diligence, and post-merger integration

Chihiro is a leader in the Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice in Japan. He works primarily with industrials and electronics and broader manufacturing companies on strategy and M&A topics. His experience in M&A stretches across the entire process, from strategy and theme definition to target selection, due diligence, and post-merger management for both domestic and cross-border transactions.

Examples of Chihiro’s recent client work include the following:

  • corporate strategy formulation for a major conglomerate to enter an adjacent space through M&A
  • programmatic M&A support including investment theme definition, target search and initial assessment, and outreach strategy
  • joint venture strategy of a Japanese company with a Silicon Valley startup
  • due diligence of strategic acquisitions; both domestic and cross-border deals
  • post-merger integration including leadership alignment, “day one” preparation, value creation through synergies, and performance management
  • performance transformation of overseas businesses from past acquisitions

Chihiro has previously worked in McKinsey’s Silicon Valley office from 2013 to 2017, supporting semiconductor and other technology clients on strategy and M&A, including large-scale merger and post-merger integration. He was the main editor for the 2018 report "Unlocking the potential of Kansai companies" and managed the Japanese translation of the McKinsey book Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick.

Published work

Proactive PMI - M&A as an opportunity for maximizing corporate value,” MARR Online, March – June 2019

Education

Stanford Graduate School of Business
MBA

Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
MS, chemistry

Kyoto University
BS, chemistry