BRIEF -- Japan trade studies head named

Toba will join the faculty of Wharton's Finanace department and teach courses on Japanese financial systems and multinational management. His role as chairperson will be to encourage research at Wharton on Japanese economy and business and to improve communication between the two nations. Toba will assume his two year position on Septemeber 1. "We are honored to have Mr. Toba join the Wharton School and share with our students and faculty his wealth of knowledge and experience," said Wharton dean Thomas Gerrity in a statement. "He brings a unique perspective to the study of international banking and finance." Toba earned a B.A. degree in law from the University of Tokyo in 1956 and his MBA from Wharton in 1958 -- since then he has more than three decades of experience in the banking industry in Japan and abroad. Toba joined Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in 1970 as an assistant vice president after a 12-year tenure at the Bank of Tokyo. Following a series of positions in general banking, ship financing and international banking with Morgan -- including four years at the pretigious London office -- Toba assumed the position of general manager of the Tokyo office in 1980. In 1985 Toba was named president and chief executive officer of Morgan Trust Bank, Lts which he held until 1988 when he was named chairman of the board. From 1988 until his retirement earlier this year he served as managing director of J.P. Morgan & Co. "I could not be more pleased to come to Wharton at this time," Toba said in a statement. "I am convinced that he relationship between the United States and Japan is at a critical juncture. I am equally convinced that the Wharton School can play a leadership role in helping to define that relationshipp an in improving communication between our two countries." Toba has been active in Wharton alumni activities, serving as the Wharton Club of Japan president from 1988 until the present, he was a charter member of the Wharton East Asian Advisory Board, founded in 1988, and a member of the Graduate Executive Board. -- Stephen Glass