Mr. Masato Kanda, aged 59, currently serves as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Japan. He will assume office on February 24, 2025, succeeding Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, who will leave on February 23, 2025. Mr. Kanda will complete the unexpired term of Governor Asakawa, which ends on November 23, 2026.
Mr. Masato Kanda
The Governor of the Bank of Italy and current Chairman of the Board of Governors of ADB, Mr. Fabio Panetta, remarked, “Mr. Kanda’s extensive experience in international finance and proven leadership in multilateral contexts will serve ADB well in navigating complex global economic challenges and strengthening international cooperation. The Board of Governors of ADB looks forward to working with Mr. Kanda.”
With nearly four decades of experience, Mr. Kanda has held key leadership positions at the Ministry of Finance of Japan, including the role of Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs. He has in-depth knowledge of financial sector policies and macroeconomic fiscal policies, having served as Deputy Commissioner at the Financial Services Agency, Vice Minister for Budget, and Vice Minister for Policy Planning and Coordination. He is also a leading expert on education and science policies, as well as university reform.
Mr. Kanda has been actively engaged in the G7, G20, and other international forums, addressing critical policy challenges such as the development of multilateral development banks; pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; and debt sustainability and transparency. During his term as Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Japan made a record contribution of over $1 billion to the Asian Development Fund’s thirteenth replenishment (ADF 14)
Since 2016, Mr. Kanda has served as Chairman of the OECD Corporate Governance Committee, overseeing the review of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance in 2023. He also has hands-on experience in strategy discussions and decision-making at multilateral development banks, having served as Alternate Executive Director for Japan at the World Bank.
Mr. Kanda obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Tokyo in 1987 and a Master of Economics degree from the University of Oxford in 1991.
