Invigorated leadership focused on growth

Tokyo, July 17, 2025 – UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd. (UBSSJ) today announced two senior appointments in Global Banking, the firm’s investment banking division, as well as a strategic bolstering of its leadership structure. The moves are part of an ongoing expansion that seeks to grow Global Banking Japan’s headcount 50% from end December 2024.

Masazumi Toriyama, a 25-year Japanese investment banking veteran, rejoins UBS on August 4 to become Head of Global Banking Japan. Earlier in his career Toriyama served 18 years with UBS, mainly as head of its Global Industrials Group focused on large-scale M&A and financing transactions, as well as with JP Morgan and Nomura Securities. Toriyama will report functionally to Gaetano Bassolino, Co-head of Asia Pacific Global Banking, as well as locally to Zenji Nakamura, Japan Country Head.

Yasunori Saku, a 36-year investment banking veteran who led the group as interim head, will be elevated to Chairman of Global Banking Japan, while Aki Nakagawa, current Chairman of the unit, moves to a general advisory role. Both will remain as core members of Global Banking Japan, maintaining and further deepening connectivity with clients and supporting the group’s growth initiatives.

C-Suite experienced Senior Advisor joins

As Global Banking expands in both numbers and scope, UBS also seeks to enhance its senior client outreach and counsel by bringing on board a seasoned veteran with extensive global C-Suite as well as corporate governance and advisory experience.

Masashi Oka joins UBSSJ on July 16 as Senior Advisor with a primary focus on Global Banking Japan. Oka has over four decades of experience in global financial services and technology enterprises, as well as in non-executive director and advisory roles across finance, technology, and consulting, in Japan and the United States. He has held top leadership positions with Sony Financial Group (SFG), Nikon Corporation, MUFG, and Union Bank.

A proven expert in business transformation and corporate governance that create enterprise and shareholder value, Oka was voted “Best CFO” by Institutional Investor for three consecutive years while with Nikon, and as CEO enhanced SFG’s enterprise value, positioning it for a spinoff and IPO by the Sony Group in 2025. He has served as an Independent Director of NEC Corporation since 2022 and also serves on the global advisory boards of Vista Equity Partners and Bain & Company, representing Asia Pacific in both organizations.

“Over the past decade, we developed a focused team tailored to meet the needs of Japanese corporates and global investors. But now it is time to expand that offering,” said Gaetano Bassolino. “Japanese corporates seek to unwind cross shareholdings, revitalize corporate governance, respond to rising activism, and secure growth here and abroad. Our new leadership structure—combined with our post CS integration globally and the hires we are making across all levels in Japan—will give UBS the senior insights as well as the critical weight needed to address growing local as well as cross-border requirements.”

Zenji Nakamura, UBS’s Japan Country Head, said, “Under this new team’s leadership, UBS investment banking will achieve substantial growth in Japan. We are excited by the Japanese market and are making the investments needed to compete toe to toe with domestic and international peers alike.”

UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 6.1 trillion dollars of invested assets as per fourth quarter 2024. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

In Japan, the firm offers corporate, institutional, and high net worth private clients a full array of financial products and services through five business entities: UBS Japan Securities Co., Ltd., UBS AG Tokyo Branch, UBS Asset Management (Japan) Ltd, UBS Japan Advisors Inc., and UBS SuMi TRUST Wealth Management Co., Ltd.