Masato Kanda, Japan’s former top currency diplomat, officially assumed the role of president at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday. Based in Manila, the ADB is a key international lender focused on eradicating extreme poverty and fostering development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Kanda, the ADB’s 11th president, pledged to advance the bank’s mission of promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth while addressing pressing development challenges. He succeeds Masatsugu Asakawa, another former senior official from Japan’s Finance Ministry.
Japan, a leading ADB shareholder alongside the United States, has consistently provided the bank’s leadership since its establishment in 1966. Kanda will serve the remainder of Asakawa’s term until 23 November 2026.
During his tenure as Japan’s vice finance minister for international affairs, Kanda played a pivotal role in large-scale market interventions to stabilize the yen against the U.S. dollar and other major currencies. He also served as a special adviser to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet before stepping down in July.
