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CEO Reflections: How a Japanese Bank is Gaining U.S. Market Share

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 12:45 – 1:45 PM (Lunch will be provided) 
Room 520, Geffen Hall, Columbia Business School (map)
(645 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027)

Note: This event is limited to Columbia Business School community members and CJEB affiliates. 

Featuring:

Hirofumi (Hiro) Otsuka

CEO, Americas Division, SMBC

 

Moderator:

David E. Weinstein

Director, CJEB; Carl S. Shoup Professor of the Japanese Economy, Columbia University

 

Talking Points:

  • SMBC’s global trajectory: Expansion of a 400-year-old Japanese megabank and its growing presence in the Americas
  • A cross-cultural journey: Firsthand insights into Mr. Otsuka’s path, from growing up in Chicago to leading a global Japanese institution as it makes inroads on Wall Street
  • Advice for future leaders: Insights about careers in finance, what global firms seek, and opportunities at SMBC

Biography:

Hirofumi (Hiro) Otsuka is Senior Managing Executive Officer, CEO of SMBC Americas Division, and President and CEO of SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc. He assumed his current roles in April 2022 and was appointed Senior Managing Executive Officer in April 2023.

Hiro has extensive experience in structured and project finance across sectors including real estate, public-private partnerships, leasing, energy and natural resources and emerging markets. He has spent more than a decade of his career in the Americas Division, playing a key role in expanding the firm’s regional presence, including establishing the Houston Office and building SMBC’s project finance and Latin America businesses.

In recent years, his focus has been on driving strategic planning and business development across the organization. Prior to his current assignment, Hiro was General Manager of the Planning Department Global Business Unit, the Asia Business Strategic Planning Department, where he oversaw M&A for financial institutions in key Asian markets, and the Asia Growing Markets Division International Business Unit and the Business Development Department.

Hiro began his career with the former Sumitomo Bank in 1990 and has held a range of roles across HR, Corporate Research, and the Real Estate Department. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering from The University of Tokyo.

Admission and Contact: 

You must register to attend this event in person.

Special Notes:
● This event is limited to Columbia Business School community members and CJEB affiliates.
● This event will not be livestreamed. 
● Please be advised that this event may be photographed, so your image may appear on our website later. If this is an issue, please let us know.
● Please bring a government-issued ID or Columbia University ID to access Columbia Business School

If you have questions about the event, please contact us at cjeb@gsb.columbia.edu. 

When
October 14th, 2026 from 12:45 PM to  1:45 PM
Location
645 W 130th Street
Geffen Hall, Room 520
New York, NY 10027
United States
Register Now

CENTER ON JAPANESE ECONOMY AND BUSINESS (CJEB)

Established at Columbia Business School in 1986 under the direction of its founder, Professor Hugh Patrick, and led currently by its director, Professor David E. Weinstein, the Center on Japanese Economy and Business (CJEB) promotes knowledge and understanding of Japanese business and economics in an international context. CJEB is a research organization widely recognized for its vigorous research activities, international symposia, conferences, and lectures, held in New York City and Tokyo, which provide prominent speakers from the public and private sectors a forum for collaboration and reflection on Japan, the United States, and the global economy. For more information, visit business.columbia.edu/cjeb.