Yasuhiro Sato

Chairman, Mizuho Financial Group Business Circle

Yasuhiro Sato was appointed Chairman of the Board of Mizuho Financial Group, effective April 1, 2018. Prior to becoming Chairman, he was President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho Financial Group from June 2011 to March 2018, and has been a Director since June 2009.

From April 2009 to March 2014, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho Corporate Bank, which merged with Mizuho Bank in July 2013. From April 2007 to March 2009, he was Deputy President of Mizuho Corporate Bank. Prior to becoming Deputy President, Mr. Sato served as Managing Director and Head of the Corporate Banking Unit and earlier positions included Senior Corporate Officer in the International Banking Unit.

Mr. Sato joined the Industrial Bank of Japan (IBJ) in 1976. The IBJ merged with Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Fuji Bank to create Mizuho Financial Group in 2000. With Mr. Sato's wide network and extensive experience in international business, including a period based in New York, he has been a pivotal leader in terms of Mizuho's global strategies and expansion.

He has served two terms as Chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association (April 2012 to March 2013 and April 2015 to March 2016), providing leadership to a financial industry facing unprecedented challenges. From January to October 2013, Mr. Sato was a member of the Abe Cabinet's Industrial Competitiveness Council, where he was involved in developing the Japan Revitalization Strategy as part of the third arrow of Abenomics.