Mr. Yasuto Watanabe assumed office as Director of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) on May 27, 2025, bringing over 30 years of experience in international finance, development finance, financial regulation, and regional financial cooperation. Prior to this appointment, he served as Senior Deputy Vice Minister of Finance at Japan Ministry of Finance, with a focus on Asia-Pacific regional issues.
Mr. Watanabe has held senior leadership and board positions across major international financial institutions, including as Director General (2021-2024) and Alternate Executive Director (2008-2011) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Deputy Director at AMRO (2016-2019), Senior Counselor at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (1998-2001), and Vice Chair of Committee Six at the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) (2014-2016).
Mr. Watanabe’s expertise also spans government budgeting, administration, trade negotiations, and emerging and developing economy issues. From 2013 to 2016, he served as Assistant Commissioner and Executive Director at Japan’s Financial Services Agency, and as lead negotiator for financial services under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) at the Cabinet Office, Japan. He is recognized for his leadership in managing large teams and complex institutional portfolios—including overseeing budget, human resources, and management systems at the ADB and responsibility for 10,000 staff at Japan Customs.
Mr. Watanabe holds a Master of Arts in International and Development Economics from Yale University and dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and business/ managerial economics from the University of Tokyo.