Masato Kanda Assumes Office as 11th ADB President

Masato Kanda has officially taken office as the 11th president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), vowing to tackle pressing development challenges and strengthen ADB’s role as the region’s preferred partner.

Kanda, who was unanimously elected by the ADB Board of Governors, succeeds Masatsugu Asakawa.

“I am ready to harness the collective expertise within our organization and work closely with our partners to drive transformative change, especially for those most in need,” Kanda said.

Extensive Experience in Finance and Development

With nearly four decades of experience, Kanda previously served as Japan’s Vice-Minister for Finance for International Affairs, where he played a key role in stabilizing markets and developing financial solutions.

ADB Board of Governors chair Fabio Panetta praised Kanda’s leadership, stating that his expertise in international finance and cooperation will help ADB deliver impactful solutions to developing countries.