The firm has merged its existing global equities and European equities groups to form a new operation.

JP Morgan Asset Management has appointed Malcolm Smith as head of the newly-formed international equity group, effective immediately.

The group will combine the existing global equities and European equities groups, this publication was told late last week.

The new head of international equity will be based in London.

The firm says this expanded role for Smith, and the combined groups will offer clients choice across international and global equity strategies. JP Morgan hopes the united teams will lead to a “dedicated focus on long-term results”.

Smith was previously head of JP Morgan Asset Management’s European equity group, a role he started in January 2016. Prior to JP Morgan, Smith worked at Blackrock, where he was a managing director within the fundamental equities group.