Kenji Irie

Executive Officer and General Manager, Sustainability Planning Department, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Kenji Irie is an Executive Officer and General Manager of Sustainability Planning Department. Based in Tokyo, Kenji leads SMBC Group’s corporate strategy on sustainability and social issues with responsibilities that include target setting, governance control, risk management and disclosure, as well as new business development and CSR activities.

Prior to his current role, Kenji was a Managing Director, General Manager, and Co-Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Coverage for SMBC Americas Division in New York, where he co-led the firm’s U.S. client coverage activities across both the corporate and investment banking platforms.

Previously, Kenji was based in Tokyo from 2013 to 2020 and played senior management roles such as Joint General Manager with the Planning Department, International Banking Unit, where he was responsible for strategic planning and business development within the Americas and EMEA markets, and Senior Vice President in SMBC’s Corporate Planning Department.

Prior to his roles in Tokyo, Kenji was based in New York, holding several senior positions from 1998 to 2013. He was an Executive Director and Head of Corporate Development in the Planning Department Americas Division, where he was responsible for strategic planning and business development within the Americas. Before joining the Planning Department, Kenji was an Executive Director and Head of Chemicals, Materials and Engineering, & Construction Coverage for the U.S. Corporate Banking Department, where he managed client coverage in these sectors.

Kenji developed extensive client coverage and business development experience throughout his more 25 years in financial services.

Kenji earned a Bachelor of Economics from Kobe University.