Manila, April 7 (AseanAll) —The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Sayaka Takahashi as the new Representative at its Japanese Representative Office (JRO) in Tokyo, Japan.
Ms. Takahashi will lead efforts to raise ADB’s profile, build relationships with Japanese stakeholders, and support strong linkages between Japan and ADB’s initiatives in Asia and the Pacific.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Takahashi served as Principal Secretariat Specialist at ADB’s Office of the Secretary (SEC), where she acted as the primary liaison between ADB’s Governors, Directors, Management, and staff, overseeing Board of Directors operations and Management administration, among other responsibilities.
“I look forward to deepening our relationship with various stakeholders in Japan and connecting Japan’s knowledge and expertise with ADB activities to support our developing member countries (DMCs),” said Ms. Takahashi. “By working together with our partners, we aim to address the most pressing and complex development challenges in Asia and the Pacific.”
Ms. Takahashi brings nearly 30 years of international experience in governance, risk, and compliance management. She joined ADB in 2018, working in the Office of Anticorruption and Integrity to strengthen anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks in DMCs, before transitioning to SEC in 2022. Previously, she served as a Director in the Reputation and Risk Office at Deloitte Japan. Her experience includes roles in the Northern Mariana Islands, Germany, and the United States (US), where she audited global financial institutions, consulted on AML and anti-corruption, and investigated financial statement fraud. She also worked in the International Fund Trading Department at the former Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation.
Ms. Takahashi holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in the US. She earned her bachelor’s degree in literature from Waseda University in Japan. She is a Certified AML Specialist, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Public Accountant in the US.
ADB established its JRO in 1996 to foster and strengthen relations with its constituencies in Japan.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
