Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s leading financial institutions, has appointed Stephen Jennings as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, marking a key strategic move in the bank’s global sustainability agenda.

Jennings, a seasoned expert in renewable energy finance, will take on the responsibility of driving MUFG EMEA’s overarching sustainability strategy. His remit includes chairing the regional Sustainability Committee and ensuring the strategy is seamlessly implemented across EMEA operations in alignment with MUFG Group's global direction.

This leadership role comes in the wake of MUFG’s bold move last year to nearly triple its 2030 sustainable finance target—from 35 trillion yen to 100 trillion yen (approx. USD $691 billion). The bank has been increasing its investments and partnerships in clean energy, low-carbon technologies, and ESG-aligned finance.

“Sustainability remains a core component of MUFG’s business plan and we continue to work to strengthen our initiatives in this area and drive social and environmental progress,” said Hideaki Takase, MUFG Group Chief Strategy Officer. “The appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer for EMEA further demonstrates our global commitment.”

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Jennings, who joined MUFG in 2008, currently heads both Energy Structured Finance and the Sustainable Business Division for EMEA. He will continue in those capacities while stepping into his expanded role. Prior to MUFG, he served as Director and Head of Renewables Project Finance at Barclays, making him well-positioned to lead MUFG’s efforts in supporting clients through their energy transition.

Adding further strength to the sustainability leadership, MUFG also announced Cathryn Kelly as Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for EMEA. Kelly, who currently leads the firm’s Credit Strategy Group, will retain her existing responsibilities while supporting the execution of MUFG’s sustainability strategy. She brings extensive experience in enterprise risk management, having joined MUFG in 2009.

Hide Yamamura, EMEA Regional CEO and MUFG Group Chief Strategy Officer, emphasized the strategic significance of both appointments:

“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.”

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