Sumitomo Mitsui appoints Tomofumi Watanabe as new co-head of APAC structured finance

He was previously general manager of the Global Structured Finance Department Tokyo.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has appointed Tomofumi Watanabe as managing director and co-general manager of the bank’s Structured Finance Department, Asia Pacific Division (SFDA).
 
Now based in Singapore, Watanabe will oversee the bank’s regional portfolio focused on sustainable energy, infrastructure and natural resources. He will reportedly work alongside co-general manager of SFDA, Luca Tonello, to strengthen SMBC’s structured finance franchise in APAC, with a focus on innovation and ESG.
 
Watanabe previously served as general manager of the Global Structured Finance Department Tokyo. He has over 10 years’ experience overseeing various structured finance transactions, including telecommunications, theme parks, transportation, shipping, energy, power and other infrastructure. 
 
Watanabe also oversaw the opening of the SMBC office in Silicon Valley, California, as well as several investments in technology firms and was part of the original Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focused financing team in Japan.