MUFG Appoints Stephen Jennings as Chief Sustainability Officer for EMEA

Tokyo-based banking group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has announced the appointment of renewable energy finance veteran Stephen Jennings as Chief Sustainability Officer for the firm’s EMEA region.

With a focus on how MUFG can support clients with their energy transition in EMEA, in his new role, Jennings will be responsible for developing and enhancing MUFG EMEA’s overall sustainability strategy as well as chairing the Sustainability Committee and leading deployment of the strategy across EMEA countries and coordination with MUFG Group.

The establishment of the new role follows the launch last year by MUFG of a series of sustainability-related initiatives, including nearly tripling its 2030 sustainable finance goal to 100 trillion yen (USD $691 billion) from its prior 35 trillion yen target.

Hideaki Takase, MUFG Group Chief Strategy Officer, said:

“Sustainability remains a core component of MUFG’s business plan and we continue to work to strengthen our initiatives in this area and drive socialSocial criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. More and environmentalEnvironmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. More progress. The appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer for EMEA further demonstrates our global commitment.”

Jennings joined MUFG in 2008, and has been serving as Head of Energy Structured Finance, EMEA and Head of Sustainable Business Division, EMEA, which he will retain as he takes on his new role. Prior to joining MUFG, he worked as Barclays as Director, Head of Renewables Project Finance.

In addition, MUFG announced that Cathryn Kelly, now head of the firm’s Credit Strategy Group, will become Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for EMEA, as well as retaining her current role. Kelly began working at MUFG in 2009, serving in a variety of roles in enterprise risk management.

MUFG Group Chief Strategy Officer, and EMEA Regional CEO, Hide Yamamura said:

“Appointing Stephen and Cathryn shows our commitment to accelerating our progress in sustainability, not only within our own operations but also by continuing to work constructively with our many stakeholders to promote sustainability in the EMEA region.”