UBS' Japanese equity trading head in Tokyo, Jim Clark, plans to retire from the industry this week. "I'm moving to Hawaii," said Clark, a 12-year veteran in the Japanese market who looked after both cash and equity derivatives trading. Clark started his career at O'Connor in Chicago and worked in New York and London before moving to Japan with Swiss Bank Corp., which had bought the Chicago trading house. Clark said he has no plans to reenter the business. "It's time to kick back and relax," he added.
"Now is a good time to leave the market," noted one equity head, adding, Japanese equities are in a depressed state and are likely to stay there for a while.
Clark reported to Rick Samuelson, head of the Japanese equities department in Tokyo. "He's been a terrific asset for us for a long time. We regret seeing him go," said Samuelson. Taichi Takahashi, managing director of equity trading in Tokyo, will assume Clark's responsibilities for the desk.
