Lead Real Estate Appoints Ken Takahashi as Chief Financial Officer to Drive Next Phase of Growth

Rhea-AI Summary

Lead Real Estate (Nasdaq: LRE) appointed Ken Takahashi as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Takahashi will lead all finance, capital markets, and corporate planning activities for the developer of luxury residences and ENT TERRACE extended-stay hotels across Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Sapporo.

His background includes senior finance roles at Fujimoto Holdings, PIP (accounting lead and president of a business associate), KPMG Peat Marwick, Nikko Group investment platforms, and CEO of Mirai Asset Management. He holds a master's degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan. Management says his capital markets experience and global perspective will support LRE's next phase of growth.

Positive

• Appointment effective January 1, 2026
• Will lead finance, capital markets, and corporate planning
• Extensive capital markets experience at multiple finance firms

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

CFO effective date January 1, 2026 Appointment of Ken Takahashi as Chief Financial Officer

Market Reality Check

$1.65 Last Close

Volume Volume 193,351 vs 20-day average 40,870 (relative volume 4.73) indicates elevated trading ahead of this announcement. high

Technical Shares at $1.71, trading above the 200-day MA of $1.49 but still below the $2.97 52-week high.

Peers on Argus 1 Down

LRE was down 2.29% while peers were mixed: SGD up 37.15%, XIN up 3.17%, JFB down 3.3%, and NYC down 2.51%, suggesting stock-specific dynamics.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 24	Industry award	Positive	-0.8%	ENT TERRACE GINZA PREMIUM received a regional luxury apartment award.
Dec 05	Investor conference	Neutral	+0.0%	Participation in Sidoti virtual investor conference and investor meetings.
Nov 03	Earnings results	Positive	-8.9%	Fiscal 2025 results with higher net income and margins despite slight revenue dip.
Oct 29	Earnings preview	Neutral	-5.8%	Announcement of upcoming fiscal 2025 results and conference call details.
Sep 15	Dividend announcement	Positive	+37.8%	Announcement of a higher cash dividend per ADR, pending approval.

Pattern Detected

LRE has previously seen negative reactions to fundamentally positive or neutral news, particularly around earnings and corporate milestones.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, LRE reported fiscal 2025 results with higher net income and gross margin, announced a significantly increased cash dividend on Sep 30, 2025, and gained an industry award for ENT TERRACE GINZA PREMIUM. It also maintained investor outreach via conferences and filed its Form 20-F highlighting leverage and project-driven revenue volatility. Today’s CFO appointment fits into this pattern of strategic and financial positioning as the company manages growth and funding.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights a leadership upgrade with a new CFO overseeing finance, capital markets, and corporate planning from January 1, 2026. In recent months, LRE reported improved profitability, paid a higher dividend, and detailed meaningful borrowings and project-driven revenue swings in its 20-F. Investors may focus on how the new CFO manages funding, transparency, and capital allocation given reliance on short-term loans and exposure to real estate cycles.

Key Terms

capital markets financial

"will lead all finance, capital markets, and corporate planning activities"

Capital markets are places where people and organizations buy and sell long-term investments like stocks and bonds. They help connect those who need money to grow or fund projects with investors looking to earn returns over time. For investors, capital markets are important because they offer opportunities to invest, save, and grow their wealth through a variety of financial assets.

internal controls financial

"where he oversaw group-wide budgeting, accounting, and internal controls"

Internal controls are the policies, procedures and routine checks a company uses to keep its financial records accurate, safeguard assets, and ensure laws and internal rules are followed. For investors they matter because strong controls reduce the risk of accounting errors, fraud or surprise liabilities; think of them as locks, alarms and bookkeeping checklists that make a company’s reported results more trustworthy and lower the chance of unexpected losses.

financial advisory financial

"gaining broad experience in capital markets, financial advisory, and regulated financial products"

Financial advisory is professional guidance on managing money, investments, debt, taxes and financial planning, provided by individuals or firms that analyze your situation and recommend actions. For investors it matters because advisors can clarify tradeoffs, help reduce risk, spot opportunities, and ensure decisions follow legal and tax rules—like a navigator helping plot a safer, more efficient course through complex markets.

regulated financial products financial

"experience in capital markets, financial advisory, and regulated financial products"

Regulated financial products are savings, investment and insurance offerings that must follow laws and official rules—examples include bank accounts, bonds, mutual funds and certain derivatives. Investors care because those rules require basic safety checks, regular reporting and clear information, much like safety labels on appliances, helping you compare costs and risks, reduce the chance of fraud or abuse, and have channels for recourse if problems arise.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Seasoned finance executive brings extensive experience in corporate strategy, capital markets, and financial management

TOKYO, Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lead Real Estate Co., Ltd (Nasdaq: LRE) ("LRE" or the "Company"), a Japanese real estate developer of luxury residential properties, including single-family homes and condominiums across Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Sapporo, and the developer and operator of the ENT TERRACE brand of extended-stay hotels, today announced that Ken Takahashi has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Mr. Takahashi will lead all finance, capital markets, and corporate planning activities.

Mr. Takahashi previously served as Senior Executive Officer and Head of the Financial Management Office at Fujimoto Holdings Co., Ltd., as well as Senior Executive Officer and Head of Accounting at PIP Co., Ltd. and Representative Director and President of PIP Business Associate, where he oversaw group-wide budgeting, accounting, and internal controls for a diversified corporate group. He also held senior finance and strategy roles at KPMG Peat Marwick Co., Ltd. and Nikko Group's venture and investment platforms, and served as Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mirai Asset Management Co., Ltd., gaining broad experience in capital markets, financial advisory, and regulated financial products. Mr. Takahashi holds a master's degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan.

"Our business is entering a new phase where disciplined capital allocation, financial transparency, and effective engagement with capital markets are more important than ever," said Eiji Nagahara, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Representative Director of the Company. "Ken's track record at large corporate groups and financial institutions, combined with his global perspective, makes him the right finance leader to support our next stage of growth."

"I am honored to serve as LRE's Chief Financial Officer," said Ken Takahashi. "LRE has a compelling strategy and a strong team, and I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to strengthen our financial foundation and accelerate sustainable value creation for our stakeholders."

About Lead Real Estate Co., Ltd

Lead Real Estate Co., Ltd is a Japanese developer of luxury residential properties, including single-family homes and condominiums, across Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Sapporo. In addition, the Company operates hotels in Tokyo and leases apartment building units to individual customers in Japan and Dallas, Texas.

The Company's mission is to serve its customers by offering stylish, safe, and luxurious living. The Company's vision is to adopt the Kaizen (continuous improvement) approach to continually improve its operations and to leverage its nationally recognized, award-winning luxury homes and strong market position in the luxury residential property market in Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Sapporo to create a global transaction platform allowing access to prime Japanese condominiums as well as overseas condominiums, including in the U.S. and Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at https://www.lead-real.co.jp/en/.

About "ENT TERRACE"

"ENT TERRACE" is an extended-stay hotel brand operated by Lead Real Estate Co., Ltd. ENT TERRACE provides flexible, residential-style accommodation in Tokyo's prime districts for international travelers, families, and business executives seeking home-like comfort with hotel services for longer stays. ENT TERRACE GINZA PREMIUM was awarded "Luxury Apartments of the Year in Kanto" at the Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, a renowned recognition in the international tourism industry. Learn more at https://ent-terrace.com/en/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors that may affect future results, as described in the Company's registration statement and in its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact Information

For Media and Investor Relations:

Ken Takahashi
Chief Financial Officer
Lead Real Estate Co., Ltd
k-takahashi@lead-real.co.jp
+81 3-5784-5127

AUM Advisors
Crocker Coulson
Email: crocker.coulson@aummedia.org
Tel: +1 (646) 652-7185

FAQ

Who is the new CFO of Lead Real Estate (LRE) and when did the appointment take effect?

Ken Takahashi was appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026.

What responsibilities will Ken Takahashi hold as LRE CFO (Nasdaq: LRE)?

He will lead all finance, capital markets, and corporate planning activities for LRE.

What is Ken Takahashi's professional background before joining Lead Real Estate (LRE)?

He held senior roles at Fujimoto Holdings, PIP (accounting lead and PIP Business Associate president), KPMG Peat Marwick, Nikko Group investment platforms, and led Mirai Asset Management.

Does Ken Takahashi have an advanced degree relevant to his CFO role at LRE?

Yes. He holds a master's degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan.

How did Lead Real Estate describe the reason for hiring Ken Takahashi as CFO?

Management cited the need for disciplined capital allocation, financial transparency, and effective capital markets engagement as reasons for the hire.

What parts of LRE's business will the new CFO support (Nasdaq: LRE)?

He will support LRE's luxury residential development and the ENT TERRACE extended-stay hotel business through finance and corporate planning.