The Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual has turned to a veteran of the natural resources industry to lead its fast-growing global commodities investments unit from London.

Jan-Erik Back is joining as head of commodities investments, according to a person familiar with the situation. He is one of 100 planned hires by BTG, which is looking to double its headcount in the UK capital to around 200 by the end of 2014, a second person familiar with the bank said.