ING Bolsters EMEA Emerging Markets Strategy with Appointment of Joseph Kerkor

Quick Summary

ING has appointed Joseph Kerkor as Head of Emerging Markets Credit Trading for EMEA to strengthen its regional footprint. Based in London, Kerkor will lead a specialist team focusing on CEE, Middle East, and African markets, enhancing liquidity and connectivity across the credit value chain for institutional clients.

How Does ING Strengthen Its Emerging Markets Credit Trading?

ING is scaling its Emerging Markets Credit Trading capabilities by integrating top-tier talent with deep regional expertise. By appointing Joseph Kerkor, the bank gains 15 years of experience in credit trading across volatile and high-growth regions. Kerkor will lead a five-strong trading team dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, and South Africa.

• Strategic Leadership: Kerkor previously led investment grade trading pods at Barclays and BNP Paribas.
• Regional Focus: Targeted growth in CEE and GCC regions to support client demand.
• Full Lifecycle Support: Enhancing services from origination to secondary market trading.

What Results Has Kerkor Delivered in Previous Roles?

The new appointment brings a proven track record from some of the world's largest financial institutions. At Barclays, Kerkor served as Executive Director, managing complex trading pods. His seven-year tenure at Goldman Sachs provided the foundational expertise required to navigate the emerging markets franchise during periods of global economic shifts. This deep institutional knowledge is critical for ING as it seeks to deepen connectivity across its credit value chain.

"[Kerkor] brings a strong combination of deep emerging markets expertise, strong trading track record and a highly collaborative mindset," said Pawan Gupta, global head of credit trading at ING.

How Will This Move Impact EMEA Credit Markets?

By securing a veteran from Barclays and Goldman Sachs, ING is positioning itself as a primary liquidity provider in the EMEA region. The bank aims to build out scale in markets that are increasingly attractive to global investors seeking yield. Kerkor’s focus on enhancing liquidity will likely attract higher volumes of secondary market activity, particularly in the CEE and Middle Eastern sectors where ING already maintains a significant presence.

"I’m delighted to be joining ING at a time of strong momentum across credit and capital markets. Emerging markets remain a key focus for our clients, and I look forward to working with the team to continue building scale, enhancing liquidity, and supporting clients across the full lifecycle, from origination through to secondary markets," said Joseph Kerkor, head of emerging markets credit trading for EMEA at ING.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This move definitely moves the needle for ING’s Emerging Markets Credit Trading ambitions. By poaching a heavy hitter from Barclays, ING is signaling that it isn't just maintaining its position—it's aggressively expanding. In a landscape where institutional liquidity is king, having a leader with Kerkor’s pedigree across CEE and the Middle East gives ING a distinct competitive edge in the EMEA credit space.