Michal Katz has an ambitious growth strategy to make Mizuho Americas, a division of Tokyo-based Mizuho Financial Group, a key player in investment and corporate banking in the U.S.
In 2023, Katz spearheaded a $550 million
"While success is hardly ever linear, I'm proud to say that the acquisition has been a 'win win,'" Katz said. "Greenhill clients now have access to Mizuho's robust balance sheet, lending and capital markets capabilities, while Mizuho clients benefit from world class advisory capabilities."
And while global mergers and acquisition activity has yet to fully recover, under Katz's leadership Mizuho Americas had some notable deals. Last October, Mizuho took a minority stake in Golub Capital to advance the firm's efforts in the burgeoning private credit market, and in May, the bank served as the exclusive financial advisor to Skechers, the third largest footwear company in the world, in its $10 billion sale to 3G Capital.
On the corporate banking side, under Katz's leadership, Mizuho's U.S. loan market share increased from 1.98% in 2020 to 2.69% in 2024.
Katz oversees about 1,000 employees with 12 direct reports, and reports to Jerry Rizzieri, president and CEO of Mizuho Securities USA. Katz is also a member of the Mizuho Americas management committee.
"Since joining Mizuho in late 2019, I've learned to contend with the challenges presented by COVID, a liquidity crisis, regional banking meltdown and rising interest rates which have tempered deal activity. But each of these crises also presented opportunities that allowed me to grow professionally and execute on the strategy to build Mizuho into a world class investment and corporate banking platform," Katz explained.
"I have become adept at managing what has been called an environment of perma-crisis – accelerating pace of technological change, uncertain macro and geopolitical dynamics and increased market volatility, not to mention the incessant headlines," she added.
Outside of the office, Katz, a former lawyer, is a member of the Economic Club of New York and is the treasurer of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation, the nonprofit division of the Recording Academy.
She is also a board member for publicly traded software company PTC and helps recruit students for her alma mater, New York's Binghamton University. Katz, alongside her husband, endowed a scholarship fund for Binghamton students who demonstrate academic excellence.
Over the course of her 29-year career in the industry, Katz has learned how to balance the personal and the professional.
"A career in banking is often all encompassing and can overtake your personal life," Katz remarked. "While in the early years, the intense focus, commitment and hard work develop the required skills or table stakes, the art of the trade, which earns a banker the role of a trusted advisor, is one of judgment and personal connections."
