Bank of America Appoints New Co-Heads for EMEA M&A Division

Bank of America has appointed Geoff Iles and Lukas Poensgen as co-heads of its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) division for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), effective September 22, 2025. This leadership change follows the promotion of Eamon Brabazon to co-head of global M&A in late 2024.

Geoff Iles, who joined Bank of America in 2003, has led the UK M&A division for the past seven years and will continue to be based in London. Lukas Poensgen, with the bank since 2010, has overseen M&A operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and will operate from Frankfurt.

These appointments come amid a resurgence in dealmaking activities. In the first half of 2025, the global M&A market experienced a 9% drop in deal volumes compared to the same period in 2024. Despite this decrease, overall deal values increased by 15%, reflecting a market environment where investors are prioritizing quality over quantity. The EMEA region has mirrored this trend, with a strong rebound in M&A activity in late 2024 followed by a more measured pace in the first half of 2025. Deal volume in the region reached 1,447 transactions in the first half of 2025, up 15.5% from the same period in 2024. Total deal value moderated to €83.6 billion, a 10.9% decline from the previous half-year, but the average deal size increased to €202 million, reflecting a shift toward larger, more strategic transactions.

Bank of America currently ranks sixth among advisors in the EMEA region, holding a 9.7% market share. The appointments of Iles and Poensgen signal the bank's commitment to strengthening its M&A capabilities in the region. Their combined experience positions the bank to capitalize on the anticipated growth in M&A activities.

The leadership changes reflect Bank of America's proactive approach to capturing growth opportunities in the EMEA M&A market. The appointments may influence the competitive dynamics among M&A advisory firms in the region.

By appointing seasoned leaders like Iles and Poensgen, Bank of America is strategically positioning itself to leverage the current M&A boom in the EMEA region, aiming to enhance its market share and advisory capabilities.