Jun Ota, President of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Dies of Pancreatic Cancer at Age 65 (Update 3)

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group President Jun Ota speaks at a press conference in June.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. announced Monday that its president and Group CEO Jun Ota died Saturday of pancreatic cancer. He was 65.

Born in Kyoto Prefecture, Ota joined Sumitomo Bank, now Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., in 1982 after graduating from Kyoto University. He later served as deputy president of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group before being appointed president in April 2019.

As president, Ota worked to improve services for customers and created Olive, a smartphone application that offers integrated account and credit card management. He also focused on expanding the company’s overseas operations, including through investment in U.S. brokerage firm Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

Deputy President Toru Nakashima will serve as president for the time being, and a successor will be chosen soon.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will hold a memorial service at a later date.