JP Morgan has hired Brian Keegan from Merrill Lynch as a managing director in its global ratings and capital structure group in New York.

Keegan, who has 18 years' experience in finance and investment banking, will focus on advising financial institutions and government-related debt issuers on ways to optimise their capital structures. He will work within the 13-strong global ratings and capital structure group in New York and London run by Joel Glasky.