Asanuma was previously a director at Yasuda Enterprise Development America, a venture firm backed by Japan-based insurers Sompo Japan Insurance and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.

Our forthcoming Powerlist covering the 100 most powerful people in corporate venturing is due for publication on November 26 and makes for a fascinating insight into who are the key decision-makers in this growing industry.

Read say: "Digital is now something like 30% of revenue [at WPP] and Paidcontent ranked us number seven in its list of the top global digital media businesses. What we are trying to do is digitise the group."

Erskine moved to oil major last year from venture capital firm Energy Capital Management (ECM).