Citigroup Hires Evercore’s Japan Head Fukuda to Boost Dealmaking

Citigroup Inc. hired Masuo Fukuda, a senior managing director at Evercore Partners Inc., to further strengthen its investment banking team in Tokyo following Japan’s busiest year on record for mergers and acquisitions.

Fukuda will join the U.S. lender on Feb. 1 to serve as vice chairman and head of banking, capital markets and advisory for Japan, according to a memo, which was confirmed by bank spokeswoman Lisa Shimizu. He reports to Lee Waite, Citigroup’s country officer for Japan.

Wall Street is banking on another year of frenzied dealmaking, as companies are forced to reorganize due to ...