Mr. Kanamori began his career in the finance industry in 2001 and has worked in Japan and New York. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2011, he held various roles in the Corporate Treasury Department at other financial firms, specializing mainly in asset and liability management.
Describe your work at the firm.
I manage the Corporate Treasury Department, which consists of Treasury Capital Markets, Liquidity Planning and Coverage, Capital and Legal Entity Management. As Japan is the center for Japanese Yen (JPY) products, we manage JPY liquidity and funding for the firm globally. Since the 2008 financial crisis, global regulators have been focusing on firms’ liquidity risk and capital management capabilities. I am often able to leverage my experience during the 2007-08 financial crisis and help contribute to the financial strength of the firm.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
My day starts with going through emails from our New York and London offices to gather issues or inquiries that require immediate attention. Throughout the day I work not only with colleagues in other divisions and departments of the Tokyo office, but also with Corporate Treasury teammates in the Asia Pacific region. I also attend conference calls and video calls with overseas offices on a regular basis and my day typically ends with global conference calls.
How would you describe the firm’s culture?
My first impression when I joined Morgan Stanley was how much the firm values teamwork, both locally and globally. This is one of the reasons why I spend most of my time attending meetings or global calls during the day. By sharing knowledge and discussing topics with colleagues from different areas of the firm, I truly get the sense that we are all working together to make the firm better every day.
What have you discovered about how to work with others at different levels?
I have found that expectation management and communication are critical in order to work with others at different levels. Management expects proactive communication and to be kept abreast of what is going on, while junior employees expect to work in an inclusive environment and receive regular feedback. Morgan Stanley’s culture to value teamwork helps to build stronger relationships amongst employees and facilitates communication within the organization.
Tell us about the importance of “Giving Back” – both at the firm and for you personally.
The firm sponsors many volunteer activities in which employees are encouraged to participate. It is not only a great chance to contribute to the local community, but also an opportunity to get to know people from different parts of the firm. Through my participation in these events, which include clean-up of a nearby beach, volunteering at a nursing home and cooking for the homeless, I was able to build a bond with colleagues across the firm that otherwise might not have been built in the workplace .
