Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. appointed Mitchell Mason CEO for its Japan operations.

Mason joins the Australian bank from Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co. Ltd., where he was managing director, COO for Japan and a member of the company's board of directors. Mason will be based in Tokyo, the bank said Oct. 18.

The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.

The appointment came after ANZ in May obtained approval from Japan's Financial Services Agency to commence ANZ Securities (Japan) Ltd.