KUALA LUMPUR (May 23): Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Malaysia Bhd (SMBC Malaysia) on Thursday announced it has appointed Atsuhide Shiojiri as its new president and chief executive officer, effective April 30, 2024.

The appointment follows the departure of Hiroshi Okawa, who has returned to Japan to assume a new role within the SMBC Group.

Shiojiri’s primary focus will be leveraging SMBC Group’s extensive expertise and resources to introduce innovative solutions for customers in Malaysia and foster global connections, according to the bank in a statement Thursday.

It added that Shiojiri’s deep corporate banking experience and understanding of SMBC’s operations will play a crucial role in driving the growth of transaction banking and deposit placements, which align well with the business strategy of SMBC’s Asia-Pacific division.

Shiojiri began his career at the bank when it was known as Sakura Bank in 1996. Over the years, he has held various leadership positions within the SMBC Group across different markets, including Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

He also had a secondment to an affiliated company of one of the bank’s customers in Hungary.

Prior to his posting to Kuala Lumpur, Shiojiri served as managing director and head of marketing at SMBC Bank EU AG in Frankfurt, Germany, since June 2021.

One of Shiojiri’s notable contributions was overseeing the successful merger of SMBC Bank EU AG and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Europe GmbH that resulted in the formation of a Universal Bank in April 2022, allowing the bank to offer a full range of financial services through a single entity.

Datuk Wan Mohd Fadzmi, chairman of SMBC Malaysia, expressed confidence in Shiojiri’s extensive experience in diverse markets and strategic mindset.

"With his extensive experience in diverse markets and strategic mindset, he is well-placed to propel the Bank’s ambitions in Malaysia and beyond," Fadzmi said. 

SMBC Malaysia, a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in Malaysia, is primarily engaged in full-fledged wholesale and institutional banking, along with related financial services.

The bank operates under a full banking licence awarded by Bank Negara Malaysia in 2010 and commenced its business in April 2011.