Akur8 has appointed Takayuki Saito as senior advisor to support its expansion in Japan and guide insurers on adopting transparent, machine‑learning‑based pricing.
In his new role, Saito will leverage his extensive experience in actuarial and data roles to help local insurers strengthen profitability and competitiveness through advanced pricing strategies.
“I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as a Senior Advisor at Akur8,” said Takayuki Saito. “As market dynamics continue to evolve in Japan, I am committed to helping insurers make effective use of Akur8’s pricing platform to strengthen their profitability and competitiveness.”
Japanese insurers have yet to widely adopt machine learning in pricing, reflecting several market-specific characteristics.
These include low consumer price sensitivity, the central role of reference pure premiums from GIROJ (General Insurance Rating Organization of Japan) as the basis for company rates, a broad range of lines managed by non‑life carriers, limited actuarial resources among small and mid-sized insurers, and a still emerging understanding of the benefits of machine learning and advanced analytics.
Despite these challenges, Saito believes market conditions are shifting. Rising inflation and the growing ease of comparing premiums online are expected to make consumers more price-conscious. At the same time, increasing societal complexity is pushing insurers to assess risk more accurately and efficiently.
Akur8 has maintained a presence in Japan for several years, including the opening of its Tokyo office in 2023. The company currently supports eight clients in the region, including AXA General Insurance Company Limited and entities of the MS&AD Insurance Group, providing a combination of local expertise and global knowledge.
Saito’s appointment reflects Akur8’s long-term commitment to the Japanese market and its focus on pricing transformation.
“We are honoured to welcome Mr. Saito as Senior Advisor. With his deep understanding of the Japanese insurance market, proven leadership in actuarial and data roles, and strong knowledge of Akur8’s solutions, he is exceptionally well placed to advise insurers on their pricing transformation,” said Samuel Falmagne, CEO of Akur8.
Saito is a Fellow Member of The Institute of Actuaries of Japan (IAJ) and Representative Partner of TS Asset Management LLC.
He has previously held executive positions at Rakuten General Insurance and AXA General Insurance, and worked as an associate partner at EY Strategy and Consulting, as well as a partner in Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s actuarial consulting team.
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