HSBC has appointed a new co-head of its mergers and acquisitions business in Europe, a region where the bank is making efforts to grow in corporate coverage and advisory.

UBS banker James Simpson has been brought in as co-head of M&A in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a person familiar with the matter. Simpson, a veteran of the Swiss bank who has most recently been working with its private equity clients, will be based in London and work closely with fellow co-head Stéphane Bensoussan, based in Paris, the person said.