Japan’s biggest brokerage Nomura Holdings says it has chosen a woman to head its banking arm, in what is believed to be a first for the country’s male-dominated financial sector.

The executive, 48-year-old Chie Shimpo, will next month become president of Nomura Trust and Banking, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calls for more women to join the labour force and firms to bring female employees into the boardroom.

None of the nation’s three biggest banks – Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho Financial – have top female executives, according to a government survey.

The Bank of Japan has just one woman on its nine-member board.

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