Nao Fukutani has more than 30 years of investment banking experience, including M&A advisory, structured finance, LBO/MBO origination, bankruptcy recovery proceedings, corporate turnaround, triangular mergers, developing takeover defense strategy for a number of Tokyo Stock Exchange listed companies, ECM/DCM management, etc.

In addition to deal execution, Nao focuses on developing key clientele among Japanese corporations through a client-driven approach to build and establish long lasting repeat client relationships: such as with Asahi Kasei, Toshiba, JERA, Brother Industries, Nisshinbo, Orix, Sumitomo Corp., Daiwa House.

Nao joined PwC Japan in July 2015 as a Partner to launch the financial advisory practice. Also, he served as a COO and led 400 M&A related advisors at PwC Advisory LLC. He retired from Partner in June 2021 but he stays as a Senior Advisor.

Prior to joining PwC, he was a Partner of GCA, an ex-TSE listed independent M&A boutique acquired by Houlihan Lokey in 2021, where he advised and led many cross-border M&A transactions between Japan and the U.S., EU, and Asia in addition to Japanese domestic deals. He also held notable positions including CEO of GCA’s Chinese subsidiary and a Board member of its Indian entity.

His M&A advisory career started at Mitsui Bank (current Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., SMBC) in the mid-80's. Until he left SMBC Group, he worked on executing cross-border transactions in Tokyo (at Sakura Bank), New York (at SMBC), and Singapore (at Daiwa Securities SMBC).

Nao received MBA from Columbia University (Beta Gamma Sigma), MA of Political Science from Ohio State University, and LLM from University of Tsukuba. He earned his CLA BA degree from International Christian University.