Case Study – Compliance Officer and MLRO

The Company

Chiba Bank’s London office was established in February 1991. The office focuses exclusively on wholesale business, encompassing corporate bond investments and loans. Globally, the bank has branches in New York, Hong Kong, London, and Singapore and representative offices in Shanghai and Bangkok, which constitute a top-level overseas branch network as a Japanese regional bank, employing over 4,000 staff and managing assets of ¥21,530.5 billion.

The Requirement

The client engaged Compliance Professionals to assist in their search for a Compliance Officer and MLRO for their London branch. The role was critical in ensuring adherence to all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining contact with local regulators, preparing and updating compliance documentation, and serving as the branch MLRO.

Given the size of the London office, the bank needed a candidate with hands-on experience who could manage end-to-end compliance responsibilities. They required an individual who had ideally worked within a smaller corporate bank and who was familiar with branch operations. The successful candidate needed to hold both SMF16 and SMF17 functions and possess a pragmatic, “roll up your sleeves” approach to leadership. With limited internal resources to dedicate to the search, the client turned to Compliance Professionals for our specialist knowledge of the London compliance market and ability to deliver quickly and effectively.

Our Solution

Compliance Professionals began by mapping the market, with a focus on candidates who had experience in smaller corporate banks and understood the unique requirements of branch-level compliance frameworks. The search considered both senior professionals who already held SMF16/17 functions as well as strong mid-level candidates ready to take the next step in their careers. Through this targeted approach, we created a refined shortlist of high-potential profiles, offering the client a clear, structured selection process.

The Outcome

From the shortlist, Chiba Bank progressed several to interview, ultimately advancing three to the final stage. The chosen professional brought over thirteen years of experience in financial services, with a background spanning regulators, retail banks, specialist banks, and overseas institutions and specifically, corporate banking experience- which is what Chiba Bank had requested. In their most recent role, they had overseen a small compliance team within a similarly structured bank, making them exceptionally well-suited to Chiba’s needs.

By partnering with Compliance Professionals, Chiba Bank secured the ideal candidate through a smooth, efficient process that saved them time and ensured a perfect match for this pivotal role.