SMBC, a member of SMBC Group, today announced the appointment of Debbie Freer as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Americas. The appointment was effective on April 1, 2022.

Hirofumi Otsuka, CEO of SMBC Group in the Americas and President & CEO of SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc., said, “Debbie’s appointment as COO is a natural fit as she has spearheaded the successful transformation of our business in the Americas Division in addition to championing our diversity and inclusion initiatives. I am confident she will continue to lead our growth plans for SMBC in the region as well as ensure a relentless focus on our diversity efforts.”

Debbie commented, “As COO, I hope to push us further on our journey to become a leading corporate and investment bank and to make our mark here in the Americas, with growth, teamwork, and client success. This firm has a rich history and culture that lends itself to deep and meaningful relationships with our clients, and I look forward to building our brand in the region.”

Debbie joined SMBC in April 2019 as Chief Strategy Officer and Head of the Strategy & Transformation Department, where she led the establishment of a bank holding company structure and strategic plan, implemented through a transformation program with robust governance and projects spanning the organization’s three lines of defense.

Before joining SMBC, Debbie was Global Head of Custody & Fund Services Product Development & Transformation at JPMorgan Chase. Prior positions included senior leadership roles at UBS, RBC, Citibank and Merrill Lynch.

About SMBC Group

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 140 offices and 86,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges. As of December 31, 2021, its total assets were $2.18 trillion.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities Canada, Ltd., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

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