Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) has appointed Andy Hunter as the firm's new head of Japan equities, replacing Mark Wheatley, who left in March.
Previously head of BAML's Japan equity sales desk in the UK, Hunter's new appointment takes immediate effect, according to an internal memo seen by theTRADEnews.com, dated 20 April. Hunter will relocate to Tokyo from London shortly and will report to Mike Halloran and Yasuhiro Fujiwara, co-heads of Asia Pacific global markets at BAML.
“Andy will be responsible for driving the growth of our platform in Japan with the aim of establishing and maintaining a lead position in terms of client rankings, revenues, and profitability,” read the memo. “He has more than 20 years' experience in the Japanese equity market and has spent the majority of his career in Tokyo.”
Prior to joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch last year, Hunter served as co-head of UBS’ Japan equity business.
Formerly both head of electronic trading, Asia Pacific, and head of Japan equities at BAML, Wheatley's electronic trading responsibilities have been assumed by Gene Reilly, managing director and head of execution services, Asia Pacific, and Gabriel Butler, director of execution sales, Asia Pacific.