Mr. Robert Verdier

Senior Advisor and President, The Taffrail Group Japan

Mr. Verdier, 51, has over 25 years of successful international financial services experience with the majority of that time in Japan. He previously served as Head of Corporate Finance for Credit Lyonnais Securities Tokyo office (1987-1995) as well as Head of Business Development for BNP Paribas Securities Tokyo office (1995-2002). In addition, Mr. Verdier served as Chief Executive Officer for Dexia Credit Local Japan operations from 2005-2009.

Mr. Verdier headed Corporate Finance at Credit Lyonnais in Tokyo, during the internationalization of Japanese Capital Markets, leading the first ever ECU debt issue for Japan Development Bank. In addition, his European experience included serving as Manager, Equity Capital Markets Division where he was heavily involved in privatization programs for Spain and Portugal. During this period he developed strong relationships with the major industrial families of the Iberian Peninsula. Mr. Verdier has a very broad industrial finance background which includes an in depth knowledge of the Renewable Energy sector, both in Japan and Europe.

Mr. Verdier, a native of France, has lived in Japan for most of the last 30 years. He is a graduate of ESCP Europe “Grande Ecole” and holds an MBA with distinction from INSEAD, Fontainebleau. He is a Knight of the French National Order of Merit; a member of the French National Foreign Trade Advisory Board, and a Local Councillor for Montrejeau City. He also serves as the Non Executive President of Planet Finance in Japan, the Japanese arm of the Microfinance leader, Planet Finance.