Russell Hires Top Talent to Manage Index Growth in Asia-Pacific (Russell.com)

Russell Hires Top Talent to Manage Index Growth in Asia-Pacific

Tacoma, WA — February 1, 2007 — To help manage the growing preference globally for Russell's U.S. equity indexes and the newly launched Russell Global Indexes, Russell Investment Group has hired Tadao Takamura as representative director for Russell Indexes Asia. Based in Russell's office in Tokyo, Takamura is dedicated solely to the growth of the index business in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Our global indexes, particularly the market-leading U.S. indexes and those that cover the Japanese market, have experienced solid growth and client interest in Asia," said Kevin Lohman, director of global sales, Russell indexes. "With Tadao's leadership we aim to take full advantage of these positive factors in our ever-competitive market and establish an even greater presence in Asia."

Takumura switched to Russell after serving the past three years as the director for FTSE Group's business in Japan. He previously worked as the executive director of the equity sales department for West LB Securities Pacific and, earlier in his career, as vice president of Schorder & Co's institutional equity sales department in New York.

"We believe Tadao's experience and solid reputation with contacts throughout the industry give him a fantastic platform to lead Russell's charge in Asia," Lohman said.

More than $3.8 trillion in assets are benchmarked to Russell indexes. Russell's marketshare for U.S. equity benchmarks used by institutional investors continues to grow and now accounts for more than 54% of the products and 52% of the assets benchmarked. This growing preference for Russell's transparent, objective index methodology led the company in January to launch a comprehensive family of global indexes.

In May of 2006, Russell established Russell Indexes Asia to better serve clients in the Asia-Pacific region and more effectively market Russell indexes and related products in that region.

About Russell
Russell Investment Group, a global leader in multi-manager investing, provides investment products and services in 44 countries. Russell manages more than $195 billion in assets and advises clients worldwide representing more than $2.4 trillion. Founded in 1936, Russell is headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., and has additional offices in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Sydney, Singapore, Auckland and Tokyo.

Contact:
Steve Claiborne, 253-439-1858

Russell Investment Group, a Washington, USA corporation, operates through subsidiaries worldwide. Russell is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

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