JPMorgan Chase has hired Firdaus Pohowalla as a managing director to reinforce its North America mid‑cap mergers and acquisitions team, the bank said in an internal memo. The memo notes that Pohowalla will become part of a mid‑cap unit that comprises more than 250 bankers focused on transactions for mid‑sized companies and their investors.
Pohowalla arrives with close to 30 years of advisory experience working with clients across industrial automation, supply‑chain technology and the capital‑goods space. His prior responsibilities included leading investment‑banking coverage for industrial and supply‑chain technology at Cascadia Capital, where his remit spanned hardware, software and services.
Before Cascadia Capital, Pohowalla held senior positions at Barclays and UBS. At those firms he developed and led coverage efforts across multiple sub‑sectors within Diversified Industries, per the memo. The note specifies he will be based in Seattle and will report jointly to Andrew Castaldo and Andrew Martin, who are the co‑heads of North America mid‑cap M&A.
Context and team structure
The internal memo frames the hire as part of JPMorgan’s broader mid‑cap strategy. The bank’s dedicated mid‑cap M&A group comprises more than 250 bankers - a team focused on working with mid‑sized companies and investors on merger and acquisition mandates. The memo lists Pohowalla’s sector expertise and prior leadership roles as the primary background supporting his new responsibilities.
Professional background
- Experience: Nearly 30 years advising clients in industrial automation, supply‑chain technology and capital goods.
- Most recent role: Head of investment‑banking coverage for industrial and supply‑chain technology at Cascadia Capital, covering hardware, software and services.
- Prior employers: Senior roles at Barclays and UBS, leading Diversified Industries sub‑sector coverage efforts.
- Location and reporting: Based in Seattle; will report jointly to Andrew Castaldo and Andrew Martin, co‑heads of North America mid‑cap M&A.
What the memo states and limits of available information
The memo communicates the hire and summarizes Pohowalla’s track record and reporting lines. It does not provide target deal mandates, specific client engagements he will take on, or detailed metrics about how the additional hire will change the team’s capacity. No compensation details or start date were included in the memo excerpt provided.