Board of directors

Mr Ihara is responsible for oversight of the Asset Management (AM) & Investor Services (IS) businesses as Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Executive of AM & IS Business Unit, having been appointed to this role in April 2024.

In his tenure at MUTB, spanning three decades, Mr Ihara has gained experience in security operations, fixed income trading, international bond sales, risk management, corporate planning and asset management. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy General Manager of Global Asset Management Business Division, and has since held several executive roles within the Asset Management business, and also CEO of Mitsubishi UFJ Fund Services Holdings Ltd. Within the Investor Services business, Mr Ihara worked in multiple regions including London.

Mr Ihara holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Waseda University.

Mr Steinberg has been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for First Sentier Investors since September 2017 and is based in Sydney.

He brings a strong background in acquisitions and wealth management to his role. Before joining the company, Mr Steinberg was Group Chief Financial Officer and Group Chief Operating Officer of Cover-More, an Australian Stock Exchange listed company, where he oversaw several acquisitions before Cover-More was acquired in April 2017.

Prior to this, he held positions at Colonial First State, including Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He also held CFO positions at Vodafone New Zealand and Australia and Finance Director of Vodafone Japan.

Mr Steinberg is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand and a Senior Fellow of FINSIA.

Mr Kawakami has worked with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation since 1990, where he has gained extensive experience in the field of asset management. He has held various positions including strategist, global asset management sales, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, directorships with strategic alliance partners, such as joint venture with Baillie Gifford and Shenwan Hongyuan Securities.

From August 2019 to March 2022, Mr Kawakami held the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer at First Sentier Investors, where he supported the development and implementation of the business strategy, aligned interests and sought opportunities and synergies between Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation and First Sentier Investors.

Mr Kawakami has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.

Ms Tredenick has extensive experience in a broad range of industries, including banking, insurance, wealth management, education services, health insurance, superannuation and technology. 

Ms Tredenick has held senior roles at National Australia Bank, MLC and Suncorp, and she currently runs her own corporate advisory business advising boards and CEOs on strategy and technology. She serves on several listed and private company boards, including Insurance Australia Group Limited, IDP Education Ltd, Urbis Pty Ltd and Hub24.

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland. 

Ms Rippingall is an experienced Board Director and investment professional based in Hong Kong. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a manager of Asian equity funds and seven years as a non-executive director. 

Ms Rippingall has held a number of Board roles since 2013. Before this, she was Senior Portfolio Manager at First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Ltd., Portfolio Manager at First Sentier Investors Management (UK) Ltd. and Portfolio Manager at The Scottish Oriental Smaller Cos. Trust Plc. She has a strong understanding of corporate governance best practice and unique insight into the Asian investment management sector.

Mr Wastcoat has over 25 years’ Executive experience in US, Europe and Asia and a track record of leading a large, complex business as well as managing developing businesses in emerging markets. 

In addition, he has over 10 years’ experience as an independent non-executive and board member for International asset management, banking and wealth management, educational services and fin tech companies. His experience includes chairing of International Committee and membership of risk, audit and remuneration committees. 

Mr Wastcoat is an experienced and prominent figure in the UK funds management industry, and joined First Sentier Investors UK group of companies as their first non-executive director in 2011. He previously spent 25 years at Fidelity and worked as Chief Executive of its UK mutual fund business, and subsequently FundsNetwork, from 1999 until his retirement from the company in 2008. He is currently on the Board of Marstone Inc, a digital advice company based in New York. 

Mr Wastcoat holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA.

Mr Ueno was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in March 2022 and is based in Sydney. He has worked for First Sentier Investors since August 2019 and was appointed Head of US Governance in September 2021. As part of this role, he managed the US consultation and reporting process with First Sentier Investors' US parent companies - MUFG Americas and MUFG Fund Services (USA). In 2022, Mr Ueno was appointed to the Steering Committee of the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute.

Prior to his time at First Sentier Investors, Mr Ueno spent over 20 years at First Sentier Investors' shareholder, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, in a variety of roles including corporate finance, strategy planning for asset management and investor services business, and the project management office of integration projects.

Mr Ueno has an MBA from the International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Waseda University.

Mr Cotton is Managing Director, EMEA, having joined in September 2020. From October 2022 to January 2024, he assumed the role of acting Chief Operating Officer (COO) globally and was appointed Chief of Staff in February 2024. He is based in Edinburgh and sits on the board of directors of each of First Sentier Investors’ main operating entities in the UK and Ireland.

Prior to joining First Sentier Investors, Mr Cotton was COO and a member of the Executive team at M&G Limited. During his 20 years at M&G, he held senior management positions and was a director of several regulated entities including M&G Securities (the ACD) and was also a Trustee of the M&G defined benefit pension scheme.  Mr Cotton commenced his career at Sedgwick Noble Lowndes as an Investment Consultant.

Mr Cotton holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Middlesex University and is a Certified Investment Fund Director.