Merrill Lynch reshuffles Asia-Pacific equity derivatives team

Clapacs and his new team will be responsible for the origination and distribution of the bank’s equity structured solutions globally, including risk management services for investor clients and equity derivatives services for corporate clients.

Meanwhile, James Rodríguez de Castro, who was a Hong Kong-based managing director in the global equity markets, Asia-Pacific, was made head of equity-linked trading for Asia-Pacific. He remains in Hong Kong and will report to Berber as well as Simon Brookhouse, head of Pacific Rim equity markets.

De Castro will be responsible for all equity-linked trading in Asia-Pacific, including convertible bonds, securitised products, listed futures and options and over-the-counter derivatives. Merrill Lynch is also planning to centralise its Asia-Pacific trading activities in Hong Kong, under the leadership of de Castro.