Mika Watanabe Joins Brunswick Group as Senior Counsel to Strengthen Stakeholder Engagement

Mika Watanabe Joins Brunswick Group

On November 10, 2025, Brunswick Group announced that Mika Watanabe will join their Tokyo office as Senior Counsel. This appointment aims to enhance the firm's expertise in multi-stakeholder engagement strategy and execution, particularly crucial during pivotal business moments. Watanabe brings with her nearly 30 years of deep experience in corporate transactions such as M&A, crisis management communications, reputation risk strategies, and media relations.

Prior to joining Brunswick Group, Watanabe served as Managing Director and Head of Communications at Morgan Stanley Japan. She was also a member of the management committee at the firm, overseeing strategic communications. Her impressive resume includes roles as Head of Communications at JP Morgan and Enron Japan, and she has worked as a financial analyst at prestigious firms like Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers. Additionally, Watanabe has experience as a journalist with Dow Jones in Tokyo, bringing a multifaceted understanding of both the corporate and media landscapes.

Brunswick Group is recognized for its advisory services in capital markets, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement, focusing on reputation building in response to government regulations and geopolitical situations. Watanabe's involvement will further strengthen the firm's consulting capabilities in Japan, particularly in dealing with capital market stakeholders, crisis communication, reputation management, and media relations.

Through her role, Watanabe will collaborate with Daisuke Tsuchiya, the partner overseeing Japanese operations in London, and Akiko Karaki, the Managing Partner of the Tokyo office. Together, they aim to support Japanese companies and multinational corporations operating within Japan.

Akiko Karaki, Managing Partner of the Tokyo office, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Mika to the Brunswick Group team as Senior Counsel. Her expertise will significantly enhance our ability to support client companies in engaging various stakeholders effectively."

In her own words, Watanabe remarked, "I am very excited to join Brunswick Group, which has a proven global track record in supporting increasingly complex and significant stakeholder engagement. I look forward to contributing as part of the team to solve the various critical issues that Japanese corporations face."

About Brunswick Group

Brunswick Group is a strategic consulting firm that addresses crucial corporate challenges such as M&A and crisis response, while supporting multi-stakeholder engagement. The firm aims to assist its clients in playing significant roles globally. The company provides advice on building relationships with multiple stakeholders in areas where business, politics, and society intersect, helping clients navigate in an interconnected world.

Brunswick's profit center is centralized, operating as a "Global ONE Firm" with integrated operations across 27 cities. The firm ensures a continuous, 24-hour responsive approach to meet client needs globally. For more information, please visit the Brunswick Group Tokyo website.