Merrill Lynch has merged its Asia-Pacific and Japan equity businesses into a single platform for the Pacific Rim, appointing two heads for the effort. Nigel Beattie, head of the Pacific Rim equity investor client group in Hong Kong, and Yasuhiro Fujiwara, head of equity trading for Japan, are now co-heads of Pacific Rim equity, according to an internal memo obtained by DW.
The structure will allow the firm to roll out more quickly new trading platforms and marketing strategies, as well as broader regional correlation books, Jason Brand, president of Pacific Rim global markets and investment banking in Tokyo and Rohit D'Souza, head of global equities and Americas global markets in New York, said in the memo.
The move follows the recent transfer of Paul Masi, head of Asia-Pacific equity markets and trading in Hong Kong, to become ceo and country head for Australia in Sydney.
