NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Sep 16, 2014) -  Mizuho Securities USA ("MSUSA"), the U.S. investment banking subsidiary of the global Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE: MFG), today announced the appointment of Matthew DeSalvo as Executive Managing Director and Head of its Equity Division. In his new role, Mr. DeSalvo will focus on continuing to build out MSUSA's equity businesses, including Japanese, US and Asian equity sales and trading product offerings in cash equities, convertibles, ETFs, program trading and equity finance, as well as US equity research and ECM. He will report to John S. Koudounis, MSUSA's President and CEO. 

Mr. DeSalvo has more than twenty-five years of financial service experience, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of CRT Capital, where he helped lead the expansion of the firm across all business lines. Prior to CRT, Mr. DeSalvo was a Managing Director and Americas Equity Trading & Sales Trading Head for Credit Suisse (2006-2012) and held several senior positions with Morgan Stanley (1985-2006), including Managing Director in charge of US Equity Distribution 

John Koudounis, MSUSA's President and CEO, stated, "Clients rely on MSUSA to provide the best coverage, pricing and execution across all asset classes to help successfully navigate the markets and achieve their financial objectives. With the addition of Matthew DeSalvo as Head of Equities, we have enhanced a key component of the MSUSA platform that will bring immediate benefits to clients while better aligning the business globally with Mizuho's strengths in Japan and elsewhere in Asia and its US banking activities."

Yasuo Agemura, Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.'s Deputy President and Global Markets Head, stated, "The Mizuho Securities Group serves a global client base and the addition of a deeply experienced leader like Matt DeSalvo is a clear demonstration of Mizuho's strong and abiding commitment to the US market and its clients." 

About Mizuho Securities USA
 Mizuho Securities USA Inc. is a U.S. registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York City, with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hoboken (NJ), Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and London (UK). MSUSA provides a wide range of fixed income and equity securities products and investment banking services to institutional clients. MSUSA is one of only 22 firms designated as a Primary Dealer in U.S. Government and Agency securities. MSUSA also is a U.S. registered futures commission merchant ("FCM") and a member of most international futures exchanges. MSUSA's parent company, Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., is a top-tier, full-service, Japanese securities firm and a core member of the Mizuho Financial Group. http://www.mizuhosecurities.com

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG), based in Japan, is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering a broad range of financial services including banking, securities, trust and asset management, credit card, private banking services, and venture capital through its group companies. The group has approximately 56,000 staff working in more than 920 offices in over 32 countries and total assets of over $1.79 trillion as of June 30, 2014. Its core global corporate banking entity, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., has offices throughout Japan, the U.S., the Americas, and the world, providing financial and strategic solutions to major corporations, financial institutions and public sector entities. For more information, please visit http://www.mizuho-fg.co.jp/english/