Nomura's head of global markets on Thursday outlined his ambition to double the trading unit's pre-tax profits over the next five years, as he addressed shareholders in what was a rare appearance by a westerner at the Japanese bank's investor day in Tokyo.

Ashley, a former Royal Bank of Scotland executive who joined Nomura's Tokyo office five years ago and has run the global markets business since its formation in December 2012, told shareholders at today's event that the bank is aiming to double profits from its global markets business by 2020.