JPMorgan signs Bill

JPMorgan has appointed Bill Belchere as a managing director and head of Asian economic and policy research. In his new role, Belchere will also assume a newly created title of Asia research co-ordinator, which will see him aim to ensure that all of JPMorgan's research output is effectively integrated.

Belchere joins from Merrill Lynch where he was a managing director and chief Asian economist responsible for Asian currency and fixed income strategy and research. Prior to Merrill, he was a policy advisor in the monetary unit of Indonesia's central bank.

Replacing Bijan Aghevli, who moved to the US late last year, Belchere will report to global chief economist John Lipsky, as well as Asian vice chairman Bart Broadman and Asian head of equities Fraser Partridge. Senior team members comprise economist Joan Zheng and Keon Lee, deputy head of Asian economic and policy research.