Citi Appoints Veteran to Lead Japan Equity Capital Markets Amid Deal Momentum

Citigroup has appointed Yuko Nakayama as head of equity capital markets for its Japan investment banking franchise, strengthening its Japan equity capital markets franchise as competition intensifies for dealmaking talent.

Effective immediately, Nakayama will lead the Japan ECM team and report to Taiji Nagasaka and Akira Kiyota, with matrix reporting to Harish Raman and Kenneth Chow.

Nakayama previously worked at Citi from 2009 to 2015 before moving to Goldman Sachs and later returning in 2023.

The bank said the appointment comes as Japanese equity issuance gains momentum amid corporate governance reforms, higher valuations and renewed foreign inflows.

Banks are deepening coverage and execution capabilities in Tokyo to capture deal flow and secure mandates from issuers seeking to raise capital.