CLS Names APAC Head of Client Engagement
Posted by Colin Lambert. Last updated: June 2, 2022
CLS has appointed Akira Kato as head of client engagement, Asia Pacific. Based in Tokyo, he will be responsible for client management across the region and will also assume the responsibilities of Makoto Miyazaki, general manager for Japan and Korea, who will be retiring after 10 years with CLS.
Kato will join the client engagement leadership team, comprising Glenn McCormack, head of client engagement – Americas and Kat Farina, head of client engagement – Europe, and report to Lisa Danino-Lewis, chief growth officer.
Kato joins from MUFG, where he was regional head of sales and trading for Asia at MUFG global markets and head of global markets division for Asia and treasurer at MUFG Bank. His responsibilities included managing a team of over 400 professionals in 14 countries/regions, covering the FX, rates, credit, structured products and Japan equities businesses.
Kato also brings extensive experience working with the regulatory community, CLS says, having contributed extensively to several regulatory related initiatives during his tenure at MUFG. Previously, he served as an executive board member of the Treasury Market Association in Hong Kong.
“[Akira] has extensive industry knowledge, management experience and longstanding relationships with regulators and industry participants from across the region,” says Danino-Lewis. “In his role, he will support our efforts to broaden participation in CLS Settlement and expand adoption of our other solutions, and thereby help to provide market participants with access to the highest standard of FX settlement risk mitigation.”