Seto joined JCB Co., Ltd. in 2005 as Executive Officer of Issuing Business Headquarters, where he was mainly responsible for the development of alliance business with key accounts. His outstanding leadership ensured that several important co-branded cards were successfully launched during this period.

Seto is an acknowledged banking industry expert with close to 30 years' experience at SMBC, particularly in investment banking, merger and acquisition, and business with key enterprises in global markets. For 15 of those years he was based in the UK and Belgium with responsibility for the whole European market, where he made a significant contribution through investment banking to a number of emerging Japanese enterprises.

During his career at SMBC, he spent 9 years in senior management positions in the Corporate Banking Department of European Division, the Structured Finance and Financial Products Department, and also served as the Deputy Managing Director of Sakura Finance International, Ltd.

"Taking on this important role, I feel deep respect and gratitude for what my predecessors and the current members of JCB have achieved in spite of the unsettled world situation over the past several years," said Seto. "My commitment is to lead the implementation of JCB's current international strategy, which means focusing on issuing in the Asian market, expansion of acceptance in the United States and Europe, and also strengthening the brand infrastructure worldwide. To achieve this important mission, we need to be united and support each other in creating an even stronger organization than ever before."

"I am convinced of Mr. Seto's excellence in the banking industry," said Kunio Yoshizawa, President and Chief Operating Officer. "His broad experience and in-depth knowledge as senior management in global markets will be a great contribution to JCB."