Carlyle announced the appointment of Eriko Sakurai, former President of Dow Japan and Korea, as Senior Advisor to the Carlyle Japan advisory team, effective 01 February 2024. Ms. Sakurai will advise the Carlyle Japan team on identifying and assessing new investment opportunities primarily in the General Industries sector, which mainly focuses on investing behind themes including capital goods, chemical/material, transportation & logistics and infrastructure-related goods and services. She will also advise on the operations and value creation initiatives within Carlyle portfolio companies.

Ms. Sakurai has held various leadership roles in her 35-year career at Dow including most recently as President of Dow Japan and Korea from 2020-2022. She also previously served as Regional President of Japan and Korea of Dow Corning and Chairman and CEO of Dow Corning Toray. In addition to her roles at Dow, Ms. Sakurai served on the board of Sony Group Corporation from 2014 to 2020, and she currently sits on the boards of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Kao Corporation, Astellas Pharma, and Nippon Sheet Glass.

Ms. Sakurai joins a team of ten Senior Advisors and Operating Executives supporting Carlyle in Japan across its core industry sectors. Carlyle has extensive experience supporting Japanese companies to enhance operational efficiencies, strengthen management infrastructure, and access global markets, with a particular focus on both succession planning and carve-out deals.