JPMorgan gets new research head

After a three month search process, JPMorgan has settled on an internal hire to be the firm's new head of equity research for ex-Japan Asia. Jose Linares will take over from Peter Redhead at the end of July.

Linares is presently head of Latin American equity research at JPMorgan in New York, a position he has held for only 18 months. Clearly a rising star in the bank, Institutional Investor ranked Linares number one in the Latin American telecoms research category. He also led his team to the same position in the poll.

Those who have met him describe Linares as a very personable fellow, as disposed to discuss Brazilian football as DCF valuations. It is thought that in his new role he will leave the number crunching to his analysts while he focuses on developing the product.

That product is currently in demand. Under Redhead, the JPMorgan equity research team in Asia has risen through the rankings to third place up from sixth a year ago. Close links between brokerage and research are driving the business these days, with analysts now charged with making money for investors, through old fashioned good ideas and stock picks.

Redhead will be moving to London to become head of European equity research. Both Redhead and Linares will report to Nick O'Donohoe, the firm's global head of equity research.