Mitsuhiro Furusawa

Mitsuhiro Furusawa is currently President of the Institute for Global Financial Affairs, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a position he has held since December 2021. SMBC Group is one of the largest financial groups in Japan and operates in 38 countries and regions globally.

Before joining SMBC, he served for almost seven years as a Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prior to that, he held successive positions in the Japanese government, including several senior positions such as Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs (2013-2014), Director-General of the Financial Bureau (2012-2013), and Senior Deputy Director-General of the International Bureau (2009-2010). He also served as a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Finance (2014-2015).

Mr. Furusawa’s overseas postings for the Government of Japan include IMF Executive Director for Japan (2010-2012), Minister (Finance) at the Embassy of Japan in the United States (2007-2009), and Counselor (Finance) at the Embassy of Japan in France (1997-1999).

A 1979 graduate of the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor of Laws degree, Mr. Furusawa also graduated in 1983 from the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Paris.