Bank of America Appoints New Leaders for EMEA M&A Division Amid Resurgent Dealmaking

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. He will continue to be based in London. Lukas Poensgen, with the bank since 2010, previously oversaw M&A operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He will be based in Frankfurt.

The appointments come amid a resurgence in dealmaking within the EMEA region. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the value of EMEA transactions has risen 11% this year, reaching approximately $950 billion. Bank of America currently ranks sixth among advisers on deals in the region, holding a 9.7% market share.

In the broader financial services sector, M&A activity has shown significant growth. Ernst & Young reports that in the first half of 2025, European banking deals remained steady at 97, but the total deal value nearly doubled year-on-year, from $11.5 billion in H1 2024 to $21.5 billion in H1 2025. Similarly, European insurance deals slightly decreased from 150 in H1 2024 to 148 in H1 2025, but the deal value rose almost fivefold, from $4.1 billion to $20.3 billion.

The strategic appointments of Iles and Poensgen are expected to enhance Bank of America's ability to navigate the evolving M&A landscape in the EMEA region, positioning the bank to better serve its clients amid increasing deal activity.

By appointing seasoned leaders to helm its EMEA M&A division, Bank of America demonstrates its strategic focus on expanding its influence and capabilities in a region experiencing significant growth in mergers and acquisitions.