Wendy Breuder
Co-General Manager, Head of Midwest General Industries, U.S. Corporate Banking Division, MUFG Union Bank
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is one of the world's 10 largest banking companies, and Wendy Breuder is one of the highest-ranking women in its U.S. operation, which was recently renamed MUFG Union Bank. She was hired in 2011 to run the corporate banking business in the Midwest, and promoted to co-general manager in 2012, making her the first female ever to hold that title.
Breuder arrived at the bank with a mandate to grow revenue in the Midwest by 40% within three years; she achieved that goal in less than 12 months. Her group posted a return on equity of 25.5% in the most recent fiscal year, among the highest of all the groups within U.S. corporate banking. She also was one of only three women selected to attend the company's global leaders' forum last year.
Breuder believes in "gender balance," and she says that the success of her group roughly half of her staff is female proves that diversity does matter. She is happy to report that the company's higher-ups have taken notice too. "Our success has prompted the bank to study the effect of gender diversity on overall team performance to shape future strategies," she says.
