Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. said Wednesday that Director Nobuyuki Hirano joined the board of U.S. financial services provider Morgan Stanley as an outside director Tuesday.

The appointment follows a capital alliance deal struck between the two firms last October, under which the Japanese banking group purchased $9 billion, or about ¥900 billion, worth of Morgan Stanley preferred shares.

MUFG is expected to play a proactive role as the U.S. firm's leading shareholder, industry watchers say.

Hirano, 57, entered Mitsubishi Bank in 1974 and has previously worked in the United States.