On Oct. 3, the World Gold Council appointed Takahiro Morita as regional director for Japan effective immediately.

“Takahiro brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and will be integral to developing our activities in Japan and informing the organization’s strategy across the wider region,” said Albert Cheng, WGC managing director for the Far East, in a statement.

Takahiro joined the World Gold Council in September 2010 and has more than 25 years of experience in financial markets, most recently with Moody’s Investors Service in Japan as managing director and head of its corporate rating group.

Prior to his role at Moody’s, Takahiro worked for The First National Bank of Chicago in Chicago and Tokyo as relationship manager, covering Japanese corporations and financial institutions.

Takahiro is replacing Jeff Toshima, who has been at the World Gold Council since 1985 and is retiring.

JCK