Yoshihiro Kawai is a Professor of Kyoto University, Graduate School of Management, since November 2017. He is also a Professor of Tokyo University, Graduate School of Public Policy from September 2018.

Professor Kawai had held the position of Secretary General of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) since June 2003 until November 2017. He joined the IAIS in 1998 as Deputy Secretary General and had been instrumental in the fast and dynamic growth of the Association. As part of his IAIS duties, Professor Kawai was also an active IAIS representative to the Financial Stability Board.

Professor Kawai’s professional career began with Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Co and the Ministry of Labour, Tokyo. He later served on the Secretariat for the OECD Insurance Committee in Paris for 4 years. From 1995 until 1998, he acted as Advisor to the Minister of Finance and the President of the Insurance Supervisory Authority in Warsaw.

Professor Kawai earned his PhD in 2000 from City University, London, with his thesis on The reform of insurance supervisory systems for economies in transition. His PhD was preceded by a BA in Education and Sociology from the University of Tokyo and an MBA with a specialisation in Economics and Finance from INSEAD. He also completed the IMD’s high performance leadership program.

In his free time, he is a keen tennis player and marathon runner.