Scott Ashby Takes Helm of SMBC Nikko Securities America's Capital Markets Division

From Morgan Stanley to Tokyo’s Global Financial Giant

The financial services world just got a notable reshuffle. Scott Ashby, a 24-year veteran from Morgan Stanley, has officially joined SMBC Nikko Securities America as Managing Director and Senior Deputy President, bringing his Fixed Income Capital Markets expertise to lead the firm’s Capital Markets and Investment Banking operations.

The Career Trajectory

Ashby didn’t just walk into this role. His quarter-century at Morgan Stanley saw him rise to Co-Head of Fixed Income Capital Markets for the Americas within the Global Capital Markets division. During his tenure there, he managed investment-grade debt underwriting across the U.S. and Latin America markets, accumulating deep expertise in institutional coverage spanning financial institutions, global asset managers, and multinational corporations. Before his Morgan Stanley years, he sharpened his financial acumen as an analyst at Toyota Motor Credit Corporation—a background that gave him insider perspective on one of the world’s most critical industries.

What This Means for SMBC

Bungo Miura, Chairperson and President of SMBC Nikko Securities America, framed the hire as strategic: Ashby will spearhead efforts to expand the firm’s Capital Markets and Investment Banking business while strengthening collaboration between product teams and coverage specialists. The move reflects SMBC’s ambitions to deepen its footprint in North American investment banking.

The SMBC Advantage

SMBC Nikko Securities America, a subsidiary of SMBC Group headquartered in Tokyo, operates across nearly 40 countries with over 85,000 employees worldwide. The parent SMBC Group commands roughly $2.11 trillion in total assets and ranks among Japan’s top three banking powerhouses. In the Americas specifically, SMBC maintains operations spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and beyond, positioning institutional clients—hedge funds, asset managers, mutual funds—with dual access to regional expertise and global connectivity.

Ashby’s appointment underscores SMBC’s commitment to recruiting top-tier talent to compete in the high-stakes world of capital markets and institutional banking.