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Investment Team
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Richard Aston
Portfolio Manager
Richard manages the Chikara Japan Income & Growth Fund and the CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc. He graduated from Cambridge University with an MA in Engineering and a sponsorship from GEC Industrial Controls. He first moved into the finance industry as an Investment Analyst with Sun Life Asset Management (now part of AXA Investment Managers) in 1992. After various roles within the asset management team, Richard was appointed as a Portfolio Manager on the Japanese desk in 1997. In 2000, he was appointed Head of Japanese equities at Chase Asset Management in London. Following the merger of Chase Manhattan, Flemings and JPMorgan, Richard became a member of the JPMorgan Asset Management Japanese Equities team based in London and subsequently in Tokyo. He was promoted to Managing Director in 2008. In December 2010, Richard returned to London and joined Chikara Investments LLP.
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Megumi Takayama
Portfolio Manager and Analyst
Megumi is a Deputy Portfolio Manager and Analyst on the Chikara Japan Income & Growth Fund and the CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc. Since graduating from Nihon University with a BA in Economics, Megumi has completed two master degrees. In 2003, an MPhil in European Studies from the University of Cambridge, followed by an MA in Japanese Studies from the University of London (SOAS) in 2005. Megumi developed her career primarily in equity sales, and working at companies including Nomura and SMBC Nikko, she gained an extensive knowledge of the Japanese equities market. Most recently, Megumi was employed as a credit analyst at the Norinchukin Bank (London) where she reviewed borrowers’ (institutional clients) balance sheets to determine internal credit ratings. Megumi joined Chikara Investments in 2018.
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Theo Wyld
Analyst
Theo works as an Analyst on the Chikara Japan Income & Growth Fund and the CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc. Theo graduated from Durham University with a degree in Mathematics, before completing a masters in the Mathematics of Finance at Columbia University, NYC. He then spent three years as a Research Analyst covering UK equities and selected global names at an investment manager in London; JM Finn. In 2018, Theo moved to Ruffer LLP and began his specialism in Japanese equities. He worked on the LF Ruffer Japanese Fund throughout his time at the firm, initially as an Analyst and subsequently as a Co-Fund Manager. Theo left Ruffer in 2023, joining Chikara Investments LLP in 2024.