Global Head of Asset Servicing (Executive Director) in London

Nomura is a global financial services group with an integrated network spanning approximately 30 countries and regions. By connecting markets East & West, Nomura services the needs of individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three business divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Management, and Wholesale (Global Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with creative solutions and considered thought leadership.

We are seeking a highly accomplished Executive Director, Head of Asset Servicing to assume senior ownership of our asset servicing function globally based in London. This is a high-profile leadership position carrying significant organisational weight, with accountability for the strategic direction, operational performance, and people leadership of both onshore and offshore teams.

• Define and own the long‑term vision and strategy for the asset servicing function, ensuring alignment with the firm's overarching business objectives.
• Act as a member of the senior Operations leadership team in London, contributing to global and regional strategic initiatives and representing the asset servicing function at the executive level.
• Drive the evolution of the operating model, identifying opportunities to enhance scalability, resilience, and competitive differentiation.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across all locations.

• Provide executive-level leadership to a globally distributed workforce spanning onshore and offshore locations.
• Set the tone for team culture, performance standards, and professional development across the function globally.
• Attract, develop, and retain senior talent, building a strong leadership pipeline within the asset servicing organisation.
• Navigate the complexities of managing diverse, cross‑cultural teams, ensuring consistency of standards while respecting local nuances.

• Hold ultimate accountability for the end‑to‑end delivery of asset servicing operations, including corporate actions, income processing, proxy voting, tax, reconciliations, and custody management.
• Ensure all teams—onshore and offshore—operate within agreed SLAs, regulatory requirements, and internal control frameworks.
• Oversee the design and governance of KPIs and operational metrics, driving a data‑led approach to performance management.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for critical operational incidents, providing decisive leadership and ensuring timely resolution.

• Sponsor and lead major transformation programmes, including automation, AI adoption, process re‑engineering, and offshoring/nearshoring strategies.
• Partner with Technology and Change Management teams to evaluate and implement next‑generation platforms and tools.
• Drive cost optimisation initiatives without compromising service quality or risk posture.
• Represent the function in firmwide change governance forums and investment committees.

• Maintain executive accountability for the control environment across all asset servicing activities globally.
• Ensure robust frameworks are in place for operational risk identification, escalation, and remediation.
• Engage proactively with Compliance, Legal, and Risk functions to ensure adherence to evolving regulatory obligations across all jurisdictions.
• Represent the function in senior risk and governance committees, including board‑level reporting where required.

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with the most senior internal and external stakeholders including key business stakeholders and key clients.
• Act as the face of the Asset Servicing function in key client conversations, industry forums, and regulatory engagements.
• Collaborate closely with Front Office, Client Services, and Product teams to ensure the function supports revenue generation and client retention objectives.

• Extensive experience in asset servicing, custody operations, or a closely related financial services discipline.
• Demonstrated experience operating at or near Executive Director level, with accountability for global, multi‑site teams.
• Proven track record of leading onshore and offshore operations simultaneously, with deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in distributed operating models.
• Comprehensive technical expertise across the full asset servicing lifecycle — corporate actions, income, tax, reconciliations, proxy voting, and custody.
• Extensive experience sponsoring and delivering large‑scale transformation programmes within a complex, matrixed organisation.
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships and influence at the executive level.
• Strong commercial acumen, including P&L awareness and budget management at a functional level.

• Prior experience within a global investment bank, tier‑one custodian, or large‑scale asset manager.
• Hands‑on exposure to Asian operational environments, ideally having held leadership roles in more than one location.
• Familiarity with industry platforms such as Broadridge, S&P.

• Executive Presence – Ability to command authority and credibility at the most senior levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Strategic Vision – Translates complex business challenges into clear, actionable strategies with measurable outcomes.
• Global People Leadership – Inspires and develops high‑performing, culturally diverse teams across multiple geographies.
• Influence & Communication – Exceptional communicator; able to articulate complex operational matters clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Risk Judgement – Sound, experienced judgement in navigating operational, regulatory, and reputational risk.
• Transformation Leadership – Proven ability to lead large‑scale change in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments.
• Commercial Acumen – Strong understanding of the commercial drivers of the business and the role asset servicing plays in delivering client and firm value.
• Resilience & Decisiveness – Strong understanding of the commercial drivers of the business and the role asset servicing plays in delivering client and firm value.

• Identify the underlying causes of problems faced by you or your team and define a clear vision and direction for the future.
• Evaluate all options for resolving problems and effectively prioritise actions or recommendations.
• Inspire team members through effective communication of ideas and motivate them to actively enhance productivity.
• Engage proactively in professional development and enhance team productivity through the promotion of knowledge sharing.
• Respect DEI, foster a culture of psychological safety in the workplace and cultivate a risk culture (challenge, escalade and respect).

The UK Government has taken steps to limit the number of overseas workers coming to the UK. We can consider applications from overseas workers who require a Tier 2 Skilled Worker visa, only if we can provide evidence that this is a genuine vacancy for a qualified role.

Nomura is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to ensuring we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome all applications and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity and gender expression, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.