Nomura Re-shuffles its Top Management in the US

It's musical chairs time for some top Nomura executives, including a new head of Nomura Holdings America.

Atsushi Yoshikawa, who currently runs Nomura's Asset Management division, has been appointed President and CEO of Nomura Holding America as well as Chairman, President and CEO of Nomura Securities International.

As CEO for the Americas, Yoshikawa will focus on accelerating Nomura's growth path in the region. No stranger to American ways, Nomura says he spent nearly 10 years in the US, including four years overseeing the bank's US business from 1998 to 2002 .

He'll be working out of the firm's New York office beginning June 1.

Meanwhile, the current head of Nomura Americas, Naoki Matsuba, who's also joint head of global equities, will relocate to Tokyo to focus solely on the bank's equities business in partnership with London-based Benoit Savoret.

"These appointments reflect our commitment to building a highly competitive franchise in the key US market and taking our global equities business to the next level. Mr. Yoshikawa has deep experience in the US market and has successfully led the international expansion of our asset management business," said Kenichi Watanabe, Nomura's President and Chief Executive Officer in a press release issued today.

News of the appointment follows a great first quarter for Nomura, (or fourth quarter for them), which was was the best performing bank for that time period. Overall, US revenues were up 54%.