Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group announced that veteran banker Kanetsugu Mike was appointed to the newly created position of regional executive for the Americas. Mike will have oversight of MUFG’s businesses in the United States, Latin America and Canada. His appointment is effective today, and he is based in New York.

“Our clients want a bank with global capabilities to provide service for them anywhere in the world. Success in the United States, Canada and Latin America is essential to our strategy,” said Nobuyuki Hirano, president of MUFG. “Kanetsugu knows MUFG’s global strategy well, having occupied a number of strategic roles around the globe, including the Americas. He is extremely qualified to lead this important business as MUFG pursues profitable, sustainable growth throughout the Americas.”

In a related move, MUFG recently announced the appointment of former UBS executive Stephen E. Cummings as the first American President and CEO of MUFG Union Bank, the banking subsidiary of MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation. Cummings’ appointment is further evidence of MUFG’s commitment to expansion in the Americas. “While Steve will report to Kanetsugu, I know they will form a strong partnership to grow our Americas businesses and they will work as one team to serve our clients from Montreal to Buenos Aires.”

Mike was most recently senior managing executive officer and deputy chief executive of the global business unit of the bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, a wholly owned commercial banking subsidiary of MUFG since 2013. Mike will retain his position as deputy chief executive of the global business unit of BTMU. He also served as vice chairman of Bangkok-based bank of Ayudhya, also known as Krungsri, a subsidiary of BTMU.

Mike began his career at the Mitsubishi Bank in 1979 and gained notable global experience over the years, including overseas assignments. From 1987 to 1994, he was with the bank’s London branch, where he was involved in the international finance business. He then transferred to the New York office, where he served as deputy general manager of the New York branch between 2000 and 2003, and subsequently as general manager of the Planning Office for the Americas.

Mike then returned to Tokyo, where he held several prominent roles in the organization, before assuming his current position as vice chairman and board member of Krungsri in January 2014. Apart from responsibilities as a member of the board, he played a key role in ensuring a smooth and successful integration between Krungsri and BTMU. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree from the Keio University Faculty of Economics and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.