Masayo
Nagai

Masayo Nagai is an internationally recognized expert in public relations and public affairs, with nearly 20 years of experience in Japan and across Asia. Both at APCO and throughout her career, she has built a track record of helping global companies and brands to establish their presence, navigate cultural challenges, mitigate and respond to crises, advocate for social and policy change and realize new opportunities in the world’s third largest economy. Masayo currently serves as Chairman, Asia and is based in APCO’s Tokyo office. She has also supported various national governments, international organizations and foreign trade missions on a range of communications assignments. ​

​Since 2017, Masayo has organized a study group designed to facilitate best practice sharing and to professionalize public affairs as a discipline in Japan. This group is open to all but generally comprised of a close-knit network of women working at domestic and international companies as well as other agencies. Masayo also teaches professional courses at the Public Relations Society of Japan (PRSJ) and contributes to the Society’s PR Planner Certification program. In recognition of these contributions as well as the dynamic culture and diverse team that she has built for APCO’s Tokyo office, Masayo was shortlisted for Campaign’s 2019 Women Leading Change Award in the Business Leader category. She was the only Japanese woman to be recognized that year.​

Prior to joining APCO, Masayo provided public communication services to organizations such as the World Bank, Japan Bank for International Corporation, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and several national and regional governments. She has also served as an advisor to local governments to support their marketing communications efforts.​Before working as a communications expert, Masayo served with the Lower House of Diet as a legislative aid.

She graduated from Ochanomizu University with degrees in education and Chinese literature and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. In 2020, she was honored with The Prospect Gold Standard Award for Professional Excellence by PublicAffairsAsia for her outstanding achievement in public relations and public affairs. As a former governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and a current member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), she remains closely connected to Japan’s business leadership. These roles provide her with unique insights into emerging business trends and policy developments, positioning her as a trusted advisor at the intersection of media, government and industry.