Bank of America Appoints New Co-Heads of 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, previously oversaw M&A operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and will operate from Frankfurt.

These appointments come amid a resurgence in dealmaking activities within the EMEA region. In the first half of 2025, global deal volumes in the financial services sector saw a slight decline of 1% compared to the same period in 2024. However, deal values increased by approximately 15%, driven by an uptick in larger deals, including ten megadeals (transactions exceeding $5 billion). Regionally, the EMEA area experienced a 70% increase in deal values during the first half of 2025, primarily due to a surge in European banking deals.

As of September 26, 2025, Bank of America's stock (ticker: BAC) is trading at $52.59, reflecting a 1.43% increase from the previous close. The bank's strategic appointments and market performance indicate a proactive approach to capitalizing on the current M&A momentum.

The leadership changes reflect Bank of America's proactive approach to aligning its M&A strategy with the evolving market dynamics in the EMEA region. The appointments of Iles and Poensgen are expected to enhance the bank's ability to navigate the complex and rapidly changing M&A landscape in EMEA.

Bank of America's strategic appointments of Geoff Iles and Lukas Poensgen as co-heads of its EMEA M&A division underscore the bank's commitment to strengthening its foothold in a region experiencing a resurgence in dealmaking activities. With their combined expertise and leadership, the bank is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and drive growth in the EMEA M&A market.