Masahiro Iijima

From graduate hire to finance transformation leader: Masahiro on seizing opportunity at NN Japan
From a young age, Masahiro Iijima (33) was driven to succeed. “I thought being successful just meant being rich,” he laughs, recalling his childhood dream. Over time, I realised it’s really about doing work that matters.” Behind that playful ambition was a mindset shaped by curiosity and perseverance; qualities that would later guide him through a transformative career in finance and technology.

Masahiro joined NN Japan straight out of university more than nine years ago. He admits he hadn’t heard of NN at the time, but something clicked during the interview. “The atmosphere felt different from traditional Japanese companies. It was more relaxed, more confident. I just had an intuitive feeling that this was the right place.”

From spreadsheets to cloud transformation
In the early days of his career at NN, Masahiro worked primarily with on-premise based manual processes, a far cry from the cloud-driven, Agile environment he’s part of today. “The company has changed a lot,” he reflects. “Now we use advanced cloud solutions and move much faster than many traditional insurers in Japan. I think that’s because of NN’s international mindset – we benchmark ourselves against global standards, not just local ones.”

Over the years, Masahiro has grown from a fresh graduate to a leader driving large-scale transformation initiatives. One of his key responsibilities is using the latest technology to automate and optimise finance systems and processes to support business innovation. 

Tackling big, complex challenges
Masahiro is currently working on a major project to implement a new policy administration system, a core part of NN Japan’s operations. “It’s a huge and complex shift,” he says. “Changing the central system of an insurance company impacts every part of the business. It’s exciting and definitely challenging.”

Another significant initiative he’s involved in is Japan’s adoption of new international capital standards. “These projects stretch our capabilities and push us to learn,” he says. “What I enjoy most is simplifying things, reducing manual work and improving processes. That kind of transformation is really satisfying.”

Leading with trust, not age
One of the defining moments in Masahiro’s career came two years ago when he was promoted to his current role. At just 31, he stepped into a leadership role typically reserved for professionals with significantly more experience. “It was a big surprise,” he admits. “I knew it would be challenging, but NN believed in me. They allowed me to grow into the role, and that trust made all the difference.”

Navigating large projects means working across teams and bringing people together, which Masahiro sees as one of his job's most complex but rewarding parts. “It’s not just about the technology,” he says. “It’s about people, relationships, and communication. That’s what makes a project succeed.”

A culture where people matter
Looking back on nearly a decade at NN, Masahiro says what he’s most proud of is not a specific project or title. It’s the team he’s built and the relationships he’s formed. “Great colleagues are the real assets I’ve gained here. That’s what I value most.”

He describes his team’s atmosphere as international, open and flat. “We can speak up freely, share ideas and be ourselves. There’s trust and transparency, and everyone has a voice.”

NN’s culture of flexibility and empowerment is something Masahiro would recommend to anyone considering a role at the company. “If you’re unsure, just meet the people. You’ll feel the atmosphere for yourself. That’s how I knew this was the right place for me.”