SMBC, a member of SMBC Group, appointed Robin Milberg chief human resources officer (CHRO) and Paul Sweeney head of strategy and transformation. Both will report to Debbie Freer, chief operating officer for SMBC Group in the Americas.

“Our company is growing exponentially and having the best leadership is critical. Both Robin and Paul bring decades of experience to their new roles, having finely honed their skills within their respective areas of expertise,” Freer said. “Our promise is that we will learn our client’s unique business needs. This hands-on, relationship-based approach differentiates us but is also predicated on a skilled and engaged workforce following and building upon a common strategy. Robin understands the need for a diverse and inclusive workplace to best serve both our clients and employees. Paul’s approach to strategy and transformation epitomizes a comprehensive and effective approach focused on execution.”

Milberg joined SMBC in September 2015. As CHRO, Milberg will be responsible for developing and implementing SMBC’s overall HR strategy for the Americas, including the full life cycle of the employee experience and ensuring supporting HR technology, data and operations are effective and efficient.

Most recently, Milberg was managing director and head of HR for SMBC, leading the daily operations of the HR team. She oversaw significant organizational change and executive level hiring, and led the team charged with developing new HR policies and processes to meet increasing industry regulatory requirements.

Prior to SMBC, Milberg was with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in its corporate and institutional banking division for eight years. She also held positions of increasing responsibility, including managing director and senior HR business partner for markets, in the company’s London and Stamford, CT, offices. Before RBS, Milberg worked for GE for 10 years in various HR roles.

Sweeney joined SMBC in September 2019 as the lead transformation program manager responsible for securing cost reduction and enabling improved profitability and scalability while enhancing internal controls. Since December 2021, he has also served as the head of the Americas division corporate services group, which includes corporate real estate and facilities, operational resilience and procurement. In this role, he led the group’s transformation through the identification and delivery of functional enhancements that support SMBC’s business strategy.

In addition to his oversight of corporate services, Sweeney will now serve as head of strategy and transformation and be accountable for the strategic transformation of the organization in the Americas to align with U.S. regulatory requirements, including combined U.S. operations and bank holding company structuring.

Before SMBC, Sweeney spent 14 years at JPMorgan Chase Asset Management, where he most recently led the transformation of its design, delivery and maintenance of financial management information systems with a focus on controls, operational leverage, streamlined processes and data quality. He also served as CFO of JPMorgan Chase Asset Management’s global investment management operations, developing strategic goals for the organization and establishing, tracking and reporting on financial targets aligned with those goals.