Nomura chief apologizes after ex-employee accused of client murder attempt

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Nomura executives have apologized and voluntarily cut their salaries after a former bank asset manager was charged with attempted murder and robbery of a customer.

Kentaro Okuda, who will receive a 30 per cent pay cut, said: “I would like to express my deepest apologies to the victims and the many people involved for the inconvenience and concern that has arisen.”

“This incident is unacceptable for financial institutions that manage key assets and their clients trust us with their transactions,” Okuda said at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. . Nine senior executives, including the bank's asset manager, voluntarily cut their salaries.

The apology comes after a former bank asset manager was charged with attempted murder, robbery and arson after accusing an elderly couple and setting their house on fire with the intention of stealing millions of yen.

The couple, who are customers of the bank in Hiroshima, survived an attempt that took place in July. A former Nomura employee was charged last month.

“Former employees joined Nomura Securities as new graduates in April 2018” and from April 2022 “provided asset management advice to individual clients,” the bank said in a statement on Tuesday. And corporations at the Hiroshima branch office. ” He was fired on August 4.

The Bank also introduced a series of measures designed to reassure clients in the aftermath of the violence, including strengthening inspections of clients' home visits, reviewing staff appraisals and increasing inspections and reinforcements. Absence period for property management staff.

“For the foreseeable future, managers will accompany employees when they visit customers' homes or speak to customers by phone during each visit,” the bank said in a statement.

Nomura Is working to expand its asset management business as a strategic priority as it seeks to reduce its reliance on volatile trading revenues. Banks and brokers are preparing to raise capital on the transfer of expected Japanese household assets from cash and deposits into high-yield investments as the country returns to sustained inflation.

Nomura, like other Japanese financial institutions, relies on sellers to visit customers' homes to promote and sell businesses.

Those familiar with the matter said there were a limited number of account closures due to the home scandal.

It is not the first voluntary pay cut that Okuda has agreed to this year, as the scandal has threatened to overwhelm the outcome, including Highest quarterly profit in 4 years. In the quarter ends in September.

Okuda, along with other top executives, has voluntarily agreed to cut wages by 20 percent for two months after the bank was fined 21.8 million yen ($ 143,000) by Japan's banking regulator over bond futures arrangements. Government.