Banking giant hits 750 at Chester
FINANCIAL services group Bank of America Merrill Lynch says its headcount at its Chester base has hit 750, making it the bank’s largest site outside London in the Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The jobs figure doesn’t include the 2,500 people also employed at Chester Business Park at subsidiary MBNA, the credit card business.
The bank first started to recruit in Chester in 2010, and sees its North West base as an increasingly important part of its operations. It has now recruited Stephen Miller from Standard Chartered to oversee all technology and operations activity and lead a new phase of expansion.
Miller who was chief information office for UK & Europe at Standard Chartered becomes BAML’s head of global FX operations and Chester lead for technology & operations.
Prior to joining SCB, Stephen spent 13 years in various operations and change management roles at Bear Stearns and JPMorgan.
Steve Davies, head of technology & operations at the bank said: “The growth of our operation in Chester has exceeded all expectations. The success is down to the contribution of our people and the many local partners in the region.
“Chester has a great combination of skills, infrastructure, connections and living environmen Our fifth anniversary in Chester coincides with the appointment of Stephen Miller to head up our flourishing operation in the city.
“This appointment shows our commitment to Chester. We’ve created over 750 jobs here in the past five years. Stephen will now spearhead our plans to continue that growth in the city.”
Bank of America Merrill Lynch functions based in Chester include: the bank’s technology infrastructure and command centre; cards technology; derivatives and FX operations; futures & options clearing; middle office; global information security; global treasury service & fulfillment and global business continuity & recovery.
