Matthew Ponsonby
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Head of CIB, Mizuho EMEA; President & CEO, Mizuho International plc
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Matthew Ponsonby is Head of Mizuho’s Corporate and Investment Banking in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mizuho International plc.
During his 35-year career in investment banking, Matthew has developed extensive expertise across corporate finance, equity markets, and mergers and acquisitions. He has advised on transactions worth over £350 billion, including some of the most significant deals in the EMEA region.
Before joining Mizuho, Matthew was Head of UK Corporate Banking within the Corporate and Institutional Banking division at BNP Paribas, where he oversaw the group’s UK corporate business and led its growth in the market. Prior to that, he was Vice Chairman of Banking and Co-Global Chief Operating Officer at Barclays. During his tenure, he played a central role in developing Barclays’ European banking franchise and co-led the expansion of its EMEA Mergers & Acquisitions practice.
Earlier in his career, Matthew spent 11 years at Citigroup, holding senior positions including Head of European Utilities, Head of the Advisory Group in Japan, and Global Head of Infrastructure Investment Banking. He began his career at Morgan Grenfell (later part of Deutsche Bank) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).
Beyond his professional career, Matthew is actively engaged in philanthropy. He is a member of the Corporate Partnerships Board at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), the UK’s leading children’s research hospital. In 2023, he personally raised over £111,000 for GOSH’s new cancer centre by rowing across the North Atlantic.
Matthew holds a First-Class degree in Materials Science and Metallurgy from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
The Record
Background
-
2017 — Present
Head of Global Banking | UK
BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas, founded in France in 1848, is an investment bank and international financial services provider for corporate and institutional clients. Matthew oversaw the corporate business of the group and steered its expansion in the United Kingdom. He was responsible for the strategy and management of the investment bank as well as some of the larger client relationships in EMEA.
-
2025 — Present
Head of CIB, Mizuho EMEA; President & CEO, Mizuho International plc
Mizuho
Mizuho EMEA, part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, provides leading corporates and institutions across the region with expert corporate and investment banking, asset management services, and a gateway to Japan and Asia.
-
2009 — 2017
Vice Chairman & Co-Global COO of Banking
Barclays PLC
Barclays is a British multinational bank that is headquartered in London. Matthew joined Barclays as their Co-Head of M&A EMEA and to build that function in the region, he was then made MD, COO of Investment Banking & Head of M&A for the EMEA region. Matthew most recently served as Vice Chairman and Co-Global COO of Banking.
-
1998 — 2009
MD, Global Head of Infrastructure & Head of European Utilities
Citigroup
Citigroup is a multinational investment bank and financial services company that is headquartered in New York and is listed as one of the largest banks in the US. Matthew spent 11 years at the group and his roles there included Managing Director, Global Head of Infrastructure, Head of European Utilities, and Head of UK Coverage.
-
2001 — 2005
MD, Head of Advisory Group & Co-Head of M&A
Nikko Citigroup
During his 11-year tenure at Citigroup, Matthew spent 5 years in Japan as Managing Director, Head of Advisory Group Japan, and before that as Managing Director, Co-Head of M&A.
-
1987 — 1990
Senior Consultant, Financial Services Division
Andersen Consulting (Accenture)
Anderson Consulting, now known as Accenture, was a separate legal entity for Arthur Anderson, formerly positioned as one of the Big Five, and operated independently from the accounting firm.
-
1990 — 1998
Director, Investment Banking
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group, now known as Deutsche Bank AG is a German investment bank and financial services company that operates in over 50 countries around the world with a large presence in Europe, the Americas and Asia. It was known as Deutsche Morgan Grenfell before Deutsche Bank did away with the name.
In The News
Newsfeed
-
27 August 2026 · Financial News
Mizuho’s European profit more than doubles to £17m
Read more -
27 July 2026 · Financial News
Mizuho European boss Ponsonby: ‘We need to be among the usual suspects’
Read more -
2 July 2026 · GlobalCapital
Mizuho picks new team for EMEA growth plan
Read more -
3 April 2025 · GlobalCapital
Mizuho changes EMEA boss as global CIB takes shape
Read more -
28 March 2025 · Reuters
BNP Paribas' UK Head of Global Banking Ponsonby resigns
Read more -
6 January 2025 · Financial News
Finance leaders’ big risks in 2025: Geopolitics, interest rates and market volatility
Read more -
11 August 2024 · The Times
After the flash crash, there’s a silver lining: Interest rates cut
Read more -
26 July 2024 · Reuters
BNP Paribas aims at 'usual suspect' status in hard-to-crack UK market
Read more -
3 August 2023
Thousands of pounds raised for charity after North Atlantic row
Read more -
15 June 2023 · Financial News
Inside BNP Paribas’ UK dealmaking push: ‘No excuses’
Read more -
16 May 2023
Matthew Ponsonby to row the Atlantic to raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital
Read more -
3 March 2022 · GlobalCapital
BNP Paribas sets sights on US as corporate finance ambitions go global
Read more -
8 February 2022 · Financial Times
BNP lifts payout target after annual profits jump
Read more -
5 January 2022 · The Trade
BNP Paribas completes the transfer of global prime finance and electronic equities from Deutsche Ban
Read more -
5 January 2022 · Bloomberg
BNP Eyes Top European Equity Spot After Deutsche Bank Deal
Read more -
2 December 2021 · GlobalCapital
Europe’s national champions slug it out for IB glory
Read more -
8 November 2021 · Financial Times
Credit Suisse to recommend its hedge fund clients join BNP Paribas
Read more -
29 October 2021 · Financial Times
News updates from October 29: UK daily Covid cases hit record high, US stocks notch best month of...
Read more -
29 October 2021 · Bloomberg
BNP Plans $1 Billion Buyback as Equities, Domestic Unit Beat
Read more -
13 July 2021 · The Trade
BNP Paribas completes Exane acquisition
Read more -
29 September 2017 · Reuters
BNP Paribas appoints Matthew Ponsonby as head of UK corporate banking
Read more
Formative Years
Education
-
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
Materials Science and Metallurgy | First Class
1985 — 1987
Areas Of Focus