Tanabe, who joined AXA Life Japan and AXA General Insurance Japan last year as director and chairman, spent 30 years in leadership roles at the Bank of Japan between 1975 and 2005. He has also served as governor of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan.

In the newly-created role, Tanabe will be based in Tokyo.

“His extensive experience in the Japanese financial industry and his strong knowledge of the regulatory, banking, insurance and investment space will prove highly valuable as we look to grow our presence in Japan,” said Francisco Arcilla, chief executive of AXA IM Japan.

“We feel privileged to participate in the exciting recent redevelopment of the Japanese financial industry under Abenomics, including the increased emphasis on stewardship and responsible investing, which strongly resonates with AXA IM's core values.”

AXA Investment Managers, part of Paris-headquartered AXA Group, operates out of 28 offices across 21 countries. As of the end of September 2015, it had €669 billion ($724 billion) in assets under management.