ABOUT US
ENG
ABOUT US: Corporate Overview
Japan’s leading independent PR and IR agency
Ashton Consulting is an independent company based in Tokyo. We specialize in Japan, and through our network of partner agencies provide coordinated communications services throughout Asia and in all the world's major markets.
Our bilingual consultants have front line experience in the Japanese, North American, and European business and financial markets, with career backgrounds that include investment banking, financial services, healthcare, consumer markets and journalism.
Your communications partner
We work with companies of all sizes and at every stage of development, from startups through to some of the world's largest international corporations.
Ashton's consultants include professionals from Japan, the U.K., Ireland, Australasia, China and North America. Our strong language capabilities ensure clarity, efficiency and direct action in handling your needs, while our international outlook allows us to stand in your shoes. We are renowned for our ability to deal flexibly and professionally with urgent or difficult situations. Yes—we can work on a project basis. Yes—we can help you at short notice. Yes—we can work with your internal team or other agencies.
Affiliated organizations
Public Relations Society of Japan
Global Reach
Ashton partners with leading agencies around the world to provide clients with regional or global corporate communications programs. Our independence allows us to recommend the ‘best fit’ agency for our clients, from among partner agencies specializing in finance, healthcare, consumer PR, investor relations and public affairs in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Management
Dan Underwood
CEO
Dan Underwood joined Ashton Consulting as an equity partner in 2002, with a background in journalism, healthcare and communications. Dan has guided the development of Ashton Consulting into Japan's leading independent agency, with a diverse client base, broad professional expertise, and a unique bilingual and bicultural corporate culture. Dan advises major Japanese and international companies on all aspects of corporate communications strategy, with a particular focus on crisis and special situations.
He has guided clients through global and domestic business restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder actions, multi-market crises and other critical communications challenges.
Dan has direct advisory relationships with numerous Japanese and foreign CEOs, and his long-standing connections with journalists provide clients with valuable insight and opportunities.
Dan is a graduate of the Wellington School of Journalism and the Otago School of Physiotherapy. He is fluent in Japanese.