# Ion Pacific strengthens global leadership team as it launches new European headquarters in London Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2017-08-03 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Ion Pacific Chooses London as European Headquarters Meta Description: Discover how Ion Pacific, led by Claire Hoey, opens a London office and appoint Ellis Chu as Managing Director for its European headquarters. URL: https://financedigest.com/ion-pacific-strengthens-global-leadership-team-as-it-launches-new-european-headquarters-in-londonhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/0o1a3232-977-1736843626215-compressed.jpg) - _Ion Pacific chooses London to become its fully regulated European headquarters, led by Claire Hoey, former Lehman Brothers and Rothschild investment banker_ - _Ellis Chu, Former Head of China M&A at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, joins Ion Pacific as Managing Director_ Ion Pacific, the international Asian headquartered merchant bank, today announces that Ellis Chu has been appointed as a Managing Director, Head of Greater China. The [Company has also opened a FCA regulated London office as its European](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-what-european-companies-are-doing-as-workers-face-high-inflation.html "Factbox-What European companies are doing as workers face high inflation") headquarters. Led by Claire Hoey, this European base will provide a platform for Asian [investors seeking](https://www.financedigest.com/anti-static-foam-packaging-market-booming-segments-investors-seeking-growth-2030.html "Anti-static Foam Packaging Market Booming Segments; Investors Seeking Growth 2030") entry or expansion into European markets and for global institutions pursuing their ambitions in China and the wider Asian markets. **ION PACIFIC’S LONDON OFFICE** Ion Pacific was founded in [Hong Kong](https://www.financedigest.com/luxury-yacht-owned-by-sanctioned-russian-oligarch-docked-in-hong-kong.html "Luxury yacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch docked in Hong Kong") in 2015 by ItamarHar-Even and Michael Joseph to serve a prominent and diverse set of clients, partners and investors. The [Company focuses on investment](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-investing-in-healthtech-and-medtech-companies.html "The Benefits of Investing in Healthtech and MedTech Companies") banking, including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and private placements, and merchant banking which involves principal investment opportunities. Claire Hoey will lead the London [office supported by Pierce Casey as a Senior](https://www.financedigest.com/ecommerce-localization-specialist-reach-builds-unstoppable-momentum-with-new-senior-appointments-and-canadian-office-move.html "Ecommerce localization specialist, Reach, builds unstoppable momentum with new senior appointments and Canadian office move") Adviser. Pierce is an experienced [private equity](https://www.financedigest.com/can-private-equity-do-for-africas-manufacturers-what-its-done-for-f1-and-rugby.html "Can private equity do for Africa’s manufacturers what it’s done for F1 and rugby?") practitioner and was previously a director of DCC and Alchemy Venture Partners, and is the former head of Apax Partners in Ireland. Claire Hoey, Managing Director and Head of EMEA for Ion Pacific, said: “As part of our international expansion, we have chosen London to become our main [European platform](https://www.financedigest.com/uber-executive-says-european-taxis-joining-platform.html "Uber executive says European taxis joining platform") to help bridge capital and investment flows between the Asian and Western markets. London is a [global leader in financial markets and business excellence and we believe our presence here will significantly enhance our offering to both our Asian and international](https://www.financedigest.com/international-investment-soars-as-albania-steps-into-global-spotlight.html "INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT SOARS AS ALBANIA STEPS INTO GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT") client base.” **ELLIS CHU APPOINTMENT** Prior to joining Ion Pacific, Ellis was the Head of China Mergers and Acquisitions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and his career experience has seen him advised on in excess of US$150bn of transactions in China. He began his finance career in New York before transferring to Asia with [Lehman Brothers](https://www.financedigest.com/lehman-brothers-trader-to-fintech-billionaire-revoluts-nikolay-storonsky.html "Lehman Brothers trader to fintech billionaire: Revolut’s Nikolay Storonsky") in 2007. He has also held senior M&A advisory positions at Citigroup [Global Markets](https://www.financedigest.com/n95-masks-market-rapid-expansion-of-the-life-science-industry-is-anticipated-to-drive-the-global-market.html "N95 Masks Market: Rapid Expansion of the Life Science Industry is Anticipated to Drive the Global Market"), Nomura and Lehman Brothers. Claire Hoey, Managing Director, Head of EMEA, commented: “Ellis’s experience in M&A in the Asia-Pacific region is industry leading and he has advised on [China’s largest](https://www.financedigest.com/taiwan-reports-chinas-largest-incursion-yet-to-air-defence-zone.html "Taiwan reports China’s largest incursion yet to air defence zone") and most important transactions. We have recently opened an office in London to [support our ambitions in bridging East and West](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-missiles-rain-down-on-ukraine-as-west-pledges-enduring-support.html "Russian missiles rain down on Ukraine as West pledges enduring support") and we are pleased to welcome him on board as Ion Pacific continues to grow internationally.” Ellis Chu, Managing Director, Head of Greater China, added: “The team at Ion Pacific have world-leading deal experience with a number of international [blue chip](https://www.financedigest.com/siemens-energy-to-rejoin-germanys-blue-chip-dax-hellofresh-to-exit.html "Siemens Energy to rejoin Germany’s blue-chip DAX, HelloFresh to exit") brands as clients. I am excited by the prospect of helping the business to build on its strong [growth momentum](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-job-growth-regains-momentum-worker-shortages-persist.html "U.S. job growth regains momentum; worker shortages persist") and adding my expertise across investment banking and M&A to what is a world class management team.” --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---