Korea Investment & Securities Co. (KIS), the brokerage unit of Korea Investment Holdings Co., on Thursday discussed strategic cooperation with J.P. Morgan Asset Management to strengthen its global competitiveness and expand investment opportunities for Korean investors.
The meeting, held in Seoul, brought together KIS Chief Executive Kim Sung-hwan and Dan Watkins, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Asia Pacific.
The two executives explored a range of partnership opportunities, including the launch of new investment products tailored for Korean clients, the domestic introduction of J.P. Morgan’s global research, and joint efforts to broaden access to overseas markets, with a particular focus on Asia and China.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the investment arm of New York-based J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., manages about $3.9 trillion in assets and employs some 8,000 people globally.
The firm covers traditional asset classes, such as equities and fixed income, as well as alternative investments, including real estate, infrastructure, private equity, hedge funds, multi-asset strategies and ETFs – widely recognized for its global research and portfolio management expertise.
“Our discussion with J.P. Morgan was a meaningful step toward offering exclusive global products to our clients,” said Kim. “We will continue to strengthen our global financial network and broaden Korean investors’ access to the world’s investment ecosystem.”
KIS’ GLOBAL PARTNERS
Watkins, a veteran financial executive, previously served as chief operating officer for J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Europe and deputy CEO of its European division.
He now oversees the company’s operations across seven major Asia-Pacific markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
KIS has steadily expanded its global alliances in recent years, partnering with Goldman Sachs, The Carlyle Group, Man Group and AllianceBernstein to offer diverse financial services and products to domestic investors.
Beyond product offerings, the firm has positioned itself as a bridge between global financial institutions and Korean clients, leveraging global research insights and tailored wealth-management services.
Analysts said Korea Investment’s collaboration with J.P. Morgan Asset Management is expected to further diversify its global presence and enhance its investment infrastructure, laying the foundation for sustainable growth in the international market.
By Byung-yeon Yoo
yooby@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
