JPMorgan Chase has appointed Dirk Jansen and Stefan Schneider as co-heads of mergers and acquisitions for Germany, according to an internal memo seen by Financial News. The move is effective immediately and aims to bolster the bank's advisory capabilities in the German market.
New leadership in German M&A
Dirk Jansen, previously a managing director in the German M&A team, and Stefan Schneider, who joined JPMorgan in 2017 from Deutsche Bank, will now jointly lead the unit. They replace the previous head, who left the bank earlier this year.
According to the memo, Jansen has been with JPMorgan for over a decade and has advised on several high-profile transactions in Germany, including the sale of Siemens' energy business to a consortium. Schneider brings extensive experience in cross-border deals, particularly in the industrial and technology sectors.
Strategic focus on German deals
The appointments come as JPMorgan seeks to strengthen its position in German M&A, which has seen a rebound in activity after a slowdown during the pandemic. Germany is the largest economy in Europe and a key market for investment banking.
"Germany remains a critical market for us, and we are confident that Dirk and Stefan will drive our M&A business to new heights," said a spokesperson for JPMorgan. The bank has been actively hiring in Frankfurt, where it has expanded its investment banking team over the past year.
Market context and competition
JPMorgan faces stiff competition from other global banks such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank in the German M&A space. According to Dealogic, JPMorgan ranked fifth in German M&A advisory in 2023, with a market share of 8.5%. The bank aims to climb the rankings under the new leadership.
The German M&A market has been buoyed by strong corporate earnings and a need for consolidation in sectors like automotive, healthcare, and technology. In 2024, deal volumes are expected to increase further, driven by private equity activity and corporate restructuring.
