Understand
Start with your strategy, stakeholders and current communication. Identify where investor understanding falls short.
Independent perspective · Personal commitment
Japanese insightGlobal perspective
Connecting Japanese companies and global investors through clear, confident communication.
Specialist expertise in financial services and real estate
Senior-level expertise across investor relations, governance, ESG, credit ratings, sell-side equity research and M&A advisory. In English and Japanese. Directly with Raymond Spencer.
A bridge between two perspectives
EAST ↔ WEST日本と世界をつなぐ
Cropped and resized for this site
25+
Years of experience in Japan
EN / JP
Bilingual · Bicultural
One
Senior advisor · Your direct contact
Career experience across
ORIXShinsei BankPayPayMoody’sBofA Securities
(Bank of America)MSCIAMD
(ATI Technologies)SodaliJohnson Controls
Raymond’s career experience; these organizations are not presented as clients or endorsers.
01 / Our expertise
Three disciplines One connected perspective
Investors see the whole company. Your communication should bring strategy, governance and financial credibility together.
The corporate and investor perspectiveTurn strategy into an
Turn strategy into an
investment narrative
Give investors a clear view of your business, priorities and long-term direction.Bring the experience of an IR leader and equity analyst into your communications.
- IR strategy and investment messaging
- Investor presentations and disclosure review
- Management preparation for investor dialogue
First-hand credit ratings and ESG experienceSee your company through
See your company through
an evaluator’s lens
Connect governance, sustainability and financial communication. Draw on first-hand experience at Moody’s and MSCI to strengthen dialogue with investors, credit rating agencies and ESG evaluators.
- Governance and ESG communication review
- Understanding credit rating methodologies and expectations
- Preparation for credit rating agency engagement
Bilingual · Bicultural · ConnectedBuild understanding
Build understanding
across borders
Help Japanese management teams communicate with international shareholders, and help overseas investors understand the Japanese corporate perspective.
- English–Japanese communication and message alignment
- Preparation for international shareholder dialogue
- Cultural and market context for investor engagement
02 / The way we work
Close to your business Clear about your priorities
A focused advisory relationship, built around your team and the conversations that matter.
Align
Agree the priorities, scope and message. Connect the financial, governance and strategic elements of your story.
Communicate
Prepare your materials and management team for meaningful dialogue. Refine the message as investor questions evolve.
03 / Meet your advisor
Raymond\nSpencer
Founder · East West IR Consulting
Experience on both sides of the conversation
My career brings together corporate IR and PR, credit ratings, ESG ratings, sell-side equity research and M&A advisory. That breadth helps me understand what companies want to communicate and what investors need to hear.
My sector specialties are financial services and real estate, informed by experience in capital markets, property governance and building services.
With more than 25 years in Japan and fluency in English and Japanese, I bring cultural understanding alongside financial expertise. At East West IR Consulting, you work directly with me, with one consistent point of contact.
Current leadership
- PresidentPark Place Residences
- PresidentABC Alliance for Better Condos
Selected career experience
ORIX · Shinsei Bank · PayPay · AMD (ATI Technologies)
Investor relations & public relations
IR and PR leadership at ORIX, Shinsei Bank and PayPay; public relations at ATI Technologies, acquired by AMD
Moody’s · MSCI
Credit and ESG ratings
Credit analysis and credit rating committees at Moody’s; global ESG ratings and corporate governance leadership at MSCI
BofA Securities (Bank of America)
Sell-side equity research
Sodali Japan
M&A-related advisory
Johnson Controls
Real estate-related ESCO (energy services)
BSc · MSc · MBA
Education across Canada, Japan and France
Selected achievements
Stronger programs Measurable results
Selected achievements from Raymond’s past corporate roles: improving IR effectiveness, extending investor reach and strengthening financial communication.
Shinsei Bank
68%Lower budget, stronger evaluation
Integrated IR, PR, branding, retail IR and CSR, and brought communications from two subsidiaries into headquarters. Reduced the budget by 68% while improving the evaluation of IR and Corporate Communications.
Shinsei Bank
7 → 13Nearly doubled analyst coverage
Worked to increase sell-side equity analyst coverage from seven to 13 in one year, broadening the company’s visibility and exceeding the average of several larger banks.
Shinsei Bank
¥74.52bnA leading role in capital raising
Played a leading role as a core fundraising team member in Shinsei Bank’s ¥74.52 billion equity raise, supporting communication with the investment community.
ORIX
~35% → 66%A broader international shareholder base
Helped deepen engagement with overseas investors during a tenure in which foreign ownership rose from the mid-30% range to 66%.
PayPay
NasdaqBuilt IR capability for listing preparation
Led an eight-person IR team preparing for a Nasdaq listing, bringing leadership and international capital-markets experience to the preparation process.
Sustainability assessment
97 / 100Strong stakeholder engagement
Achieved a score of 97 out of 100 for stakeholder engagement in the Dow Jones annual corporate sustainability assessment.
Recognition for the work
- Third-best IR officer
Ranked third in Japanese banking, among 85 banks, by Institutional Investor.
- An eight-year high across all six categories
Shinsei Bank achieved its highest shareholder IR evaluation in eight years across all six categories for the year ended March 31, 2013. Evaluation by IR Japan.
- IR websites recognized in Asia and Japan
Top-five IR website in Asia twice; ranked 37th among 3,556 companies in Japan by Nikko IR.
- Best president/CEO message
Recognition for the best president/CEO message in an annual report among Japanese banks.
Books by Raymond Spencer
Governance and real estate Three books
My three books examine how governance, financial decisions and public policy shape property ownership. They draw on my perspectives as an owner, board member and property manager.
The Condo Governance Trap
Why Owners Lose Control of Their Largest Asset and How to Take It Back
Find on Amazon.ca
The Halifax Policy Trap
How Budgets, Taxes, Valuation and Housing Rules Shift Costs and Reduce Affordability
Find on Amazon.ca04 / Working together
The right level of support A direct relationship
Reserve Raymond’s time and expertise, with priorities agreed in an initial discussion across our three service areas. Use your agreed hours flexibly as your needs evolve.
BRONZE
Focused support
2hours / week
A starting allocation for focused advice and priorities agreed with you.
Enquire about BronzeSILVER
Steady collaboration
4hours / week
More time for ongoing collaboration across your agreed priorities.
Enquire about SilverGOLD
Strategic partnership
8hours / week
A larger allocation for deeper involvement in your strategy and communications.
Enquire about GoldMore time or a dedicated engagement?
Let’s discuss itThese plans are starting allocations. Subject to availability, one client may reserve multiple allocations, including five 8-hour Gold allocations for a dedicated 40-hour week. Scope, deliverables and fees are agreed privately in your proposal.
A maximum of 40 client hours per week
Total commitments across all clients are capped at 40 hours per week. Capacity is managed carefully so every client receives the attention and quality their engagement requires.
Confidentiality and client privacy
Client discussions and materials are treated as confidential. A non-disclosure agreement can be agreed before sensitive information is shared. Client names, logos and engagement details are used publicly only with prior permission.
05 / Appointments
A time to talk
Choose a preferred date and time for a 30-minute conversation. Raymond will confirm your appointment by email.
06 / Let’s start a conversation
What do you want investors to understand?
Tell Raymond about your company, your priorities and the support you are looking for. We can explore an appropriate engagement together.
eastwestirconsulting@outlook.comEnglish and Japanese enquiries welcome
EAST ↔ WEST