A Day in the Life of an Intern: Ria Gill's Experience in the Product Control Team at Mizuho EMEA

Ria Gill, an intern in the Product Control team at Mizuho EMEA, shares her typical day, from waking up at 6am to reviewing P&L reports and collaborating with various teams. She enjoys learning about different financial products and services and has led personal projects to enhance operational efficiency. Ria also appreciates the opportunity to catch up with fellow interns and build connections across the bank.

Mizuho Financial Group is making significant strides in the competitive Asian investment banking landscape. By combining aggressive cross-border dealmaking with a strategic talent acquisition strategy, the Japanese giant is positioning itself to challenge regional heavyweights like UBS, JPMorgan, and DBS. This article explores how Mizuho is outmaneuvering its rivals and why this could be a golden opportunity for investors.

The Cross-Border Gambit: India and UAE as Strategic Powerhouses

Mizuho’s playbook starts with bold geographic bets. In India, the bank has poured $500 million into acquiring 70% of Avendus Capital, a top-tier M&A and IPO advisory firm, while doubling its workforce to tap into the country’s digital infrastructure and talent pool [1]. This isn’t just about deals—it’s about building a global capability center that leverages India’s tech-savvy workforce to execute cross-border transactions at scale. Meanwhile, in the UAE, Mizuho has forged a 2025 partnership with Abu Dhabi to channel Emirati capital into Japan’s green energy and innovation sectors, aligning with ESG goals and the UAE’s Vision 2030 [2]. These moves create a dual-axis of growth: India as a talent and tech hub, and the UAE as a bridge to Middle Eastern capital.

Talent Acquisition: Building a Global Army of Bankers

Mizuho isn’t just buying deals—it’s buying people. The 2023 acquisition of Greenhill & Co. brought 370 employees into its fold, instantly boosting its M&A advisory capabilities [4]. In India, the bank is doubling its workforce to leverage local expertise in fintech and green energy, while in the UAE, it’s hiring professionals with ESG and renewable energy experience [5]. This “hire and train” approach ensures Mizuho’s bankers are not just dealmakers but cross-border connectors, fluent in the nuances of Asian markets.

Performance Metrics: Closing the Gap on Rivals

While UBS and JPMorgan dominate league tables, Mizuho is rapidly closing the gap. In the first half of 2025, Mizuho ranked third in Asia-Pacific M&A advisory, trailing only JPMorgan and UBS [9]. Its revenue growth is equally impressive: a 26% year-over-year jump in the December 2024 quarter, driven by strategic investments in fintech and wealth management [10]. By contrast, DBS’s performance metrics remain opaque, and UBS’s reliance on attrition-driven talent acquisition raises long-term sustainability concerns [11].

The Road Ahead: A Bold Vision for Asia’s Future

Mizuho’s CEO, Shuji Matsuura, has made it clear: the bank aims to be Asia’s top investment bank by 2035 [13]. With its India-UAE axis, talent-driven growth, and ESG-aligned deals, Mizuho is building a moat that rivals can’t easily breach. While UBS and JPMorgan may lead today, Mizuho’s strategic leap into Asia’s most dynamic markets could redefine the region’s financial landscape. For investors, this isn’t just a story about deals—it’s a bet on the future of global capital flows.

References

[1] Mizuho Financial Group's Strategic Expansion in Asia [https://www.ainvest.com/news/mizuho-financial-group-strategic-expansion-asia-unlocking-cross-border-financial-synergies-india-uae-2508/]
[2] Mizuho Closes Acquisition of M&A... [http://www.mizuhogroup.com/news_release/20231201_2release_eng.html]
[4] Mizuho Financial Group's Strategic Expansion in Asia [https://www.ainvest.com/news/mizuho-financial-group-strategic-expansion-asia-unlocking-cross-border-financial-synergies-india-uae-2508/]
[5] Mizuho plans more dealmaking to become top Asia... [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/mizuho-plans-more-dealmaking-become-top-asia-investment-bank]
[9] Mizuho plans more dealmaking to become top Asia... [https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/banking-finance/mizuho-plans-more-dealmaking-become-top-asia-investment-bank]
[10] J.P. Morgan Maintains a Buy on Mizuho Financial Group [https://www.ainvest.com/news/morgan-maintains-buy-mizuho-financial-group-mfg-strategic-deep-dive-institutional-confidence-market-positioning-2508/]
[11] UBS Market Perspectives & Outlook [https://www.ubs.com/global/en/investment-bank/insights-and-data/2025/ma-report-market-perspectives-outlook.html]
[13] Mizuho Financial Group's Strategic Expansion in Asia [https://www.ainvest.com/news/mizuho-financial-group-strategic-expansion-asia-unlocking-cross-border-financial-synergies-india-uae-2508/]