AVI Japan Opportunity Trust plc

Appointment of Non-Executive Directors

In accordance with UKLR 6.4.6R, AVI Japan Opportunity Trust plc ("the Company") is pleased to announce the appointments of Andrew Rose and Thomas (Tom) Yoritaka to its Board as Independent Non-Executive Directors, effective 12 February 2025.  These appointments follow a search and selection process managed by an external independent recruitment consultancy.

Andrew has over 38 years' experience specialising in Japanese equities and held various senior roles at Schroder Investment Management, where he spent 11 years working in Tokyo over three separate secondments and was involved in a number of research and fund management responsibilities across the market capitalisation spectrum. Following retirement from full-time fund management, Andrew served as a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit and Supervisory Committee at Uhuru Corporation, Tokyo for three years. Andrew is fluent in spoken and written Japanese.

​

Tom is a seasoned venture capital investor, software executive, and board member with over 30 years of experience in the technology industry across the UK, North America, and Japan. He specialises in investing in early-stage technology and science-backed startups, collaborating closely with founders and co-investors, including leading venture capital funds and C-suite executives of multinational companies. Tom is also a member of the Board of Trustees at SOAS University of London and serves on various technology industry boards in the UK.

​

Tom held executive roles in software product and corporate development at Cisco Systems, Yahoo!, and Microsoft in the US. He also served as a strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group in the US and Japan.

Norman Crighton, the Chairman of the Company, commented, "I am delighted to welcome both Andrew and Tom to the Board of AJOT. They each bring an impressive breadth and depth of Japanese equities experience to the Board which will help to guide the Company as we execute our strategy and deliver further value to our shareholders".

The Company confirms that there are no matters which are required to be disclosed pursuant to UKLR 6.4.8R.

MUFG Corporate Governance Limited

Secretary

13 February 2025

LEI: 894500IJ5QQD7FPT3J73