Leading global financial services firm JP Morgan has appointed Ahmed Saeed, an industry veteran, as the new head of public sector coverage for its Middle East division.

Saeed joins from Nomura International, where he was most recently a managing director in its Investment Banking division, focusing on public sector clients in the Middle East.

In this capacity, Saeed will work closely with in-country bankers and product partners within the corporate and investment bank and asset management divisions to deliver the firm’s extensive product capabilities and financial strength to its public sector clients in the region.

He will be based in Dubai and report to Abdulaziz Al Helaissi, the head of JP Morgan’s Global Corporate Bank in the Mena and senior country officer for Saudi Arabia, and to Daniel Zelikow, the head of JP Morgan’s International Public Sector Group.

Commenting on the hire, Al Helaissi said: “I am pleased to welcome Ahmed to JP Morgan to lead its public sector coverage in the Middle East. JP Morgan has a solid track record of providing the strategic insight and product expertise that public sector organizations need to raise capital, manage financial assets and liabilities and achieve efficiencies in managing payments."

"Ahmed’s appointment will help to ensure that clients have access to these historically strong capabilities," he added.

Zelikow said, "Ahmed's diverse background in both public and private sectors adds a global dimension to the perspectives he brings to our clients in the Middle East. We're delighted to have him on our international team."

Previously, Ahmed was president of Cerberus Middle East Capital Advisors, a subsidiary of the New York-based private investment firm.

In the past, Saeed has served with the US Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C, where he led the Treasury’s work on US financial and economic policy issues affecting the Middle East and Africa.

He began his career with White & Case, a law firm headquartered in Washington.-TradeArabia News Service