JPMorgan Chase & Co. has appointed Kamal Jabre, former global head of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at HSBC, as Vice Chair of its M&A division for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Jabre will collaborate with Marc Pandraud, a JPMorgan insider since 2016, to drive the bank's growth in the EMEA region.

Jabre brings extensive experience to his new role. Before his tenure at HSBC, he spent 20 years at Morgan Stanley, where he held various senior positions, including Chairman and CEO for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. During his career, Jabre has advised on numerous high-profile transactions for major clients across North America, Europe, and the MENA region.

This appointment aligns with JPMorgan's broader strategy to strengthen its M&A capabilities and expand its presence in the EMEA market. In recent years, the bank has made several key hires to bolster its operations in the region. For instance, in October 2024, JPMorgan hired Rumesh Rajendram from Deutsche Bank as head of consumer and retail M&A for EMEA. Additionally, in March 2025, the bank brought back Jay Harris from Bank of America to focus on industrials within its mid-cap M&A group.

Jabre's departure from HSBC comes in the wake of the bank's decision earlier this year to scale back its M&A and certain equity operations in Europe and the Americas, refocusing its efforts on Asia and the Middle East. HSBC has confirmed Jabre’s exit.

HSBC's strategic shift involves winding down its M&A and equity capital markets businesses in Europe, the UK, and the Americas. This move is part of a broader restructuring plan under CEO Georges Elhedery, aiming to simplify operations and focus on areas where the bank holds a competitive advantage. Elhedery stated, "Our intention is to move to a more competitive, scalable, financing-led model."

The appointment of Kamal Jabre underscores JPMorgan's commitment to enhancing its M&A capabilities in the EMEA region. This move is likely to strengthen JPMorgan's competitive position in the market, potentially leading to increased deal flow and market share. Conversely, HSBC's strategic shift may result in a reduced presence in the European and American M&A markets, impacting its deal-making capabilities in these regions.

JPMorgan's strategic hires, including that of Kamal Jabre, underscore the bank's commitment to enhancing its M&A capabilities in the EMEA region. This move is likely to strengthen JPMorgan's competitive position in the market, potentially leading to increased deal flow and market share. Conversely, HSBC's strategic shift may result in a reduced presence in the European and American M&A markets, impacting its deal-making capabilities in these regions.

JPMorgan's appointment of Kamal Jabre underscores its commitment to strengthening its M&A capabilities in the EMEA region. Simultaneously, HSBC's strategic shift highlights the evolving dynamics of global investment banking, with institutions reassessing their regional focuses to align with profitability and growth objectives.