The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust PLC announced that Martin Paling will retire after the AGM in December. David Kidd will replace Martin as the Company's Senior Independent Director. After a thorough search, the company identified an excellent replacement in the form of Simon (Sam) Davis. Sam has a degree in Japanese Studies from Trinity College, Oxford and after 12 years with Deutsche Group in London and Tokyo, worked for Putnam Investments in Boston and London.