CME appoints Kazuhara to bolster Japan growth

CME Group has hired Izumi Kazuhara to identify new growth opportunities for its business in Japan.

Based in Tokyo, Kazuhara joins CME as executive director, head of Japan. He will be responsible for developing the exchange operator’s expansion plans and customer relationships in the country.

Kazuhara has held positions at NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse-owned derivatives bourse Eurex after starting his career as an expert in international economic and competition law.

"Dr. Kazuhara joins our team in Asia, bringing with him unparalleled experience and insight to our growing presence in the Japanese market,” said Julien Le Noble, head of Asia Pacific at CME Group. “We will continue to work with Japan's financial community to leverage our global risk management benchmark products and help our clients achieve their risk management goals in the country, as well as develop new benchmark products and services needed in the region."

The announcement of Kazuhara’s appointment comes at the same time as the Osaka Securities Exchange launched futures contracts based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. CME Group plans to offer an e-mini futures contract based on the Nikkei 225 Average on 18 June, denominated in Japanese yen.

The CME Group already offers Japanese instruments on the platforms it operates including Nikkei 225 equity indices, Euroyen-TIBOR interest rate futures and various yen currency pairs and futures.