Former JP Morgan banker Duncan Hogg has joined Barclays Australia as head of mergers and acquisitions as the UK bank advances the build-out of its investment banking division Down Under, Barclays Australia confirmed in a call with FinanceAsia on September 2.
Hogg's appointment is the sixth recent hire at the UK bank's Australian franchise, according to a Barclays release on September 1. The growing head count is in furtherance of the bank's strategy of "building on existing strengths of the firm by supporting clients with cross border M&A, financing and associated risk management needs," it said.
Cross-border M&A has been a "sweet spot" for Barclays, the bank said in the call. Australia M&A volume has reached $62.1 billion year to date, up 8% from the same period in 2014 when volume hit $57.3 billion on 911 deals, according to data provider Dealogic.
Commenting on the new hires in the context of recent tectonic shifts on global markets, Richard Satchwell, co-head of investment banking Barclays Australia said: "With the current market volatility clients need partners they can trust to provide the right advice and unparalleled access to all the major global capital markets. These talented new hires will help us further realise this.”
In addition to Hogg, Samit Ghosh from Barclays India has relocated to become head of risk solutions group, Australia.
Hogg and Ghosh will report to Satchwell and his co-head Paul Early.
