JPMorgan to expand Asia-Pacific team 10% this year, undeterred by Middle East conflict

2026.03.23 00:50 James Roddy, JPMorgan’s head of global corporate banking, pictured in Hong Kong on March 13, 2026. Photo: Jonathan Wong JPMorgan Chase plans to expand its corporate banking team by about 10 per cent across Asia-Pacific this year, as its plans in the region will not be slowed down by uncertainties arising from the US-Israel war on Iran, according to a senior executive. The hiring campaign was part of the lender’s longer-term plan, which aimed to increase its headcount in the region by 40 per cent between 2023 and 2026, said James Roddy, head of global corporate banking. The corporate banking business in Asia-Pacific, where JPMorgan operates in 17 markets, grew by about 20 per cent last year. “The major challenge right now is navigating the geopolitical situation in the Middle East,” Roddy said in an exclusive interview during a trip to Hong Kong and other markets in the region last week. “But for the longer term, the bank and our corporate clients expect to maintain good, healthy, progressive growth within the business.” The firm would not slow down its investment programme owing to headwinds, he said. “We do not think that longer-term trade diminishes for us,” he added. Roddy, who has worked with JPMorgan for 25 years, said he had met many client leaders during his trip and found they were excited about future development despite the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. “The trend we see is that there are a large number of companies that are looking to go public or to set up business in Hong Kong or the Greater Bay Area,” he said. “Hong Kong and the Greater China region are a central part of their growth. We see that trend every single day, and we do not think that it is slowing down.” The demand was coming from large firms, mid-cap firms and innovative companies, he said. “Hong Kong is not only a gateway to China, but also an important financial hub for Asia-Pacific and for companies’ regional activities,” he said. “This is a natural

原文链接: 南华早报