Goldman Sachs Japan president in sudden departure

Hank Paulson-appointed regional boss abruptly out.

Goldman Sachs Japan is facing a major transition with the immediate resignation of its president, Masanori Mochida.

This abrupt exit marks the end of a notable 38-year tenure for one of Tokyo’s key financial figures. Mochida, who is 69, played a pivotal role in elevating Goldman’s stature in Japan, involving the bank in several high-profile national deals.

Unusually, Mochida’s resignation came without a designated successor for this critical position. Initially appointed in 2001 by then-CEO Hank Paulson, Mochida was expected to retire in 2024. However, recent developments expedited his departure.

Insiders at Goldman suggest the move reflects a need for new leadership in Tokyo amidst stiffening competition from rivals like Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan. This urgency is underscored by Japan’s growing market for management buyouts, domestic consolidations, and other M&A activities, attracting global investor interest.

The first nine months of 2023 saw a 14% increase in M&A deals involving Japanese companies, reaching $111 billion, as reported by LSEG. Goldman currently ranks 14th in M&A financial advisory for Japanese companies, trailing behind leaders like Nomura and Morgan Stanley.

Goldman’s Japan operations have also seen significant talent losses, notably in 2018 when key figures left for SoftBank and various technology startups. There was hope within the company that Mochida’s retirement would usher in a new era of leadership, revitalizing the business in a market increasingly viewed as a lucrative alternative to China.

Under Mochida’s leadership, Goldman played a central role in Toshiba’s financial rescue and once became one of Japan’s largest golf course owners. Reflecting on his 35th anniversary with Goldman, Mochida noted the dominance of local players in Japan’s 1980s financial sector, seeing it as an opportunity for Goldman Sachs to make its mark.

Goldman’s expansion in Japan under Mochida included major deals like the $22.5 billion Nippon Steel-Sumitomo Metal Industries merger in 2012 and Toshiba’s $18 billion memory chip business sale in 2017.

Goldman has declined to comment on Mochida’s departure.

Shinichi Yokote, Kenro Tsutsumi, Yoshihiko Yano, Etsuko Kobayashi and Shogo Matsuzawa will comprise a newly formed leadership group in the country to coordinate and help oversee the business, the bank said in a memo dated Nov. 19.