J.P. Morgan continues to expand its Commercial Banking business with senior appointments to the Corporate Client Banking & Specialized Industries (CCBSI) team in Japan. This new team, part of the Commercial Bank division at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Tokyo Branch, will serve Japan-headquartered companies, from mid to large corporates, with access to leading financial capabilities, a strong global network and deep market expertise.

“Japan is one of J.P. Morgan’s most important markets, and we’re investing in top talent to serve our clients’ evolving cross-border and increasingly complex needs to help them achieve long-term success,” said Steve Rinoie, Senior Country Officer for J.P. Morgan in Japan.

The firm has appointed Shotaro Akita as Head of the Commercial Bank in Japan and Head of CCBSI Japan. Akita has been advising companies on their financial needs for over 20 years, most recently for Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. where he spent 12 years in corporate finance leading M&A and financing transactions.

In addition to Akita, CCBSI Japan has added:

• Toshiyuki Okuyama as a Senior Banker, who brings 30 years of corporate banking experience in Japan and abroad. He was previously a Corporate Banking Director for Bank of America.
• Masato Sato as a Senior Banker, who brings more than 15 years of investment banking experience. He was previously a Client Coverage Banker for J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank.
• Hideki Hiramatsu to lead Treasury Services for CCBSI Japan to support clients with treasury services capabilities, such as cash management, payment and trade solutions. With more than 22 years of banking experience, Hiramatsu joins the firm from Standard Chartered Bank’s Tokyo Branch, where he was most recently the Head of Cash for the transaction banking division serving corporate clients.

Japan is the newest market in J.P. Morgan’s CCBSI global expansion effort, announced in early 2019. While now extending coverage to serve multinational locally-headquartered companies, Commercial Banking continues to serve their U.S. subsidiaries, a top market for the business, as well as subsidiaries of foreign-headquartered clients operating in Japan.

“We’re focused on expanding our reach and helping clients realize their global ambitions for growth and success – from subsidiary companies with vast footprints and now local corporates,” said Pravin Advani, Head of CCBSI Asia-Pacific at J.P. Morgan.

J.P. Morgan has been doing business in Japan since 1924. The new CCBSI team covers regions where the firm already has a strong history helping clients with their credit, hedging, foreign exchange, investment banking, trade, treasury services and private banking needs.