J.P. Morgan has rapidly expanded its Life Sciences team within its Commercial Banking business to help companies meet their unique risks, opportunities and challenges. In just one year, the team has recruited key talent and created a national presence, with staff in key Life Sciences markets across the U.S.- including Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego and New York, among other cities.
Peter Meath joined J.P. Morgan’s Commercial Bank last year to create the Life Sciences group to serve companies at every stage of growth across the biopharmaceuticals and medical technology industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics.
The group continues to build its geographic presence across the U.S., most recently growing its West Coast team with the hiring of Linda Le Beau, industry executive overseeing the western region from Palo Alto. Linda previously was a managing director at East West Bank. Joining Linda are recent hires Brett Shealy, vice president in Palo Alto, and Kevin Filer, vice president in San Diego, who joined from Wells Fargo and Bank of America, respectively.
“We are like a specialty life sciences bank within a bank with the strength of J.P. Morgan behind us,” said Meath, managing director and industry manager for Life Sciences within the Commercial Bank. “Our clients will benefit from our deep industry expertise, global resources and access to the firm’s full range of products and capabilities, from Commercial Banking to Investment Banking to Asset Management. We are here to help them succeed, from their early stage business strategies and beyond.”
Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Meath co-founded Square 1 Bank and headed the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
“This is an exciting time to serve companies benefiting from the changing demographics and health-care legislation in the U.S.,” said Scott Geller, head of the Specialized Industries practice for middle market banking at J.P. Morgan. “We can make banking easier for complex and rapidly changing industries in the innovation economy.”