J.P. Morgan, the global financial services firm, has announced the promotion of Semih Ozkan to the Regional Head of Corporate Payments Sales, Middle East & North Africa, with effect from December 2024. 

Semih, who joined JP Morgan in the UAE in 2022, brings over 20 years of industry leadership experience. He most recently served as the Executive Director for EMEA Energy, Power, Renewables, Metals & Mining at J.P. Morgan Payments. Taking over his new role, Semih will be responsible for overseeing treasury, trade and export finance requirements across the MENA region. 

Before joining JP Morgan, Semih worked with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) as the Director of Structured & Trade Finance Sales Head for Middle East, and also served as Middle East Regional Committee Chairman for Int'l Trade & Forfaiting Association (IFTA) simultaneously. He previously served as the Director of Corporate Trade Finance & Cash Management Sales for Deutsche Bank - MEA, Director of FI Trade Finance & Cash Management Head for Standard Chartered Bank - Northern Gulf & Iraq, and Vice President of FI Middle East for Tekstilbank. 

On the academic front, Semih holds an MSc in Financial Management from Robert Gordon University, a Diploma in Business Strategy from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BSc in International Relations from Istanbul University. He also holds key certifications in Sustainable Business Strategy, Data Science,  International Corporate Treasury Management, and Islamic Finance. 

Semih is a recognised thought leader in trade and treasury solutions and recently shared insights on corporate treasury transformation in the Middle East, underlining how visionary reforms, economic advancements, and technologies are reshaping the region’s financial landscape, unlocking potential for growth.

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Most recently, the US’s largest bank has made headlines for calling its global workforce of 3,16,000 back to the office, finally ending the era of remote and hybrid working. On Friday, it announced that all employees on hybrid work schedules will have to return to the office - five days a week starting in March 2025. The bank has been operating with remote and hybrid work arrangements since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This news comes as the bank prepares for a significant leadership transition following the retirement of CEO Jamie Dimon.

While global, multi-regional corporations are calling their employees back to the office, the Middle East is embracing the benefits of remote and flexible working, enhancing the quality of life for its people.