Investment and merchant bank Ion Pacific has announced the appointment of Jonathan Starbecker as a Managing Director to support the firm’s continued growth in Asia and globally. Jonathan will be based in Hong Kong.

“We are continuing to establish Ion Pacific as a leading investment and merchant bank,” said Ion Pacific co-founder Itamar Har-Even. “Jonathan’s arrival reflects our ongoing commitment to hiring top talent and expanding our cross-border capabilities across the region.”

Jonathan has over 14 years’ experience in investment banking, private equity related transactions and international finance, completing transactions totaling more than US$4.5 billion. His investment banking expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, special situations and capital markets transactions. He has worked on transactions across a variety of industries including healthcare, financial services, information technology and general industrials. Jonathan speaks English and Japanese.

“Jonathan has an impressive background and a wealth of experience working in the industry in Asia,” said Ion Pacific co-founder Michael Joseph. “This is an exciting time to be in the region, as Asia continues to become more integrated with the global economy. Amid changing market conditions, our clients are increasingly in search of more innovative and creative solutions than those offered by traditional investment banks”.

Ion Pacific launched in 2015 and is headquartered in Hong Kong with an office in Europe. The firm specialises in cross-border deals, bridging the capital and investment flows of both inbound and outbound Asia deals. Ion Pacific’s core business focus is on investment banking and conventional and alternative asset management.