Atsushi Saito spearheaded the rehabilitation of supermarket chain Daiei Inc. and 40 other ailing companies until March as president of the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan, the government-backed bailout agency that disbanded in March.

Now Saito, 67, is set to embark on a new challenge — turning the Tokyo Stock Exchange into the No. 1 market in Asia.

"The (TSE's) goal is to establish its position in the world as a gateway to Asia's financial market," said Saito, who will replace Taizo Nishimuro as president at the TSE's annual shareholders' meeting June 22.