New European and Middle East operations appointment at BMO

BMO Financial Group has announced the appointment of William Smith as managing director and head of European & Middle East Operations with responsibility for expanding BMO's activities in these regions.

‘Bill is a key leader at BMO and his solid track record for delivering results, combined with his deep understanding of market fundamentals and industry expertise will be of great benefit to our clients as we expand our presence in Europe and the Middle East,’ said Bill Downe, president and chief executive officer, BMO Financial Group.

Smith will report directly to Eric Tripp, president of BMO Capital Markets. He will work closely with product and industry groups to deliver financial solutions to the firm's global client base. A key focus will be the continued growth of BMO Capital Markets' Metals & Mining Group which has a global leadership presence.

Smith is taking over from Hans-Jurgen Queisser, who has retired after 27 years with BMO Capital Markets. Based in London, Smith was formerly head of Investment & Corporate Banking, Europe, a role he has held since he joined BMO Capital Markets in 2004. In that role, he was responsible for a wide range of transactions in the global resources sector, including M&A, strategic advisory, and equity financing.

Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets, Smith spent 17 years in investment banking in London, Toronto and Tokyo. He holds an MBA from York University, an MA from the University of Toronto and a BA from St. Lawrence University.

In addition to its 14 offices in North America, BMO Capital Markets has European operations in London, Zurich, Paris and Dublin. Last fall, BMO celebrated the 140th anniversary of Bank of Montreal's presence in the United Kingdom.