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JP Morgan Chase, the American banking giant, has appointed Kevin Latter as Head of Investment Banking for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), according to a statement on Tuesday.

Latter is joining JP Morgan Chase from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he served as Head of Investment Banking for the SSA region. He previously spent eight years as Head of Investment Banking for Deutsche Bank, the German lender, in South Africa.

"His appointment demonstrates J.P. Morgan's unwavering commitment to our SSA franchise and reflects our ongoing focus to deliver best-in-class products and solutions to our clients," said Sjoerd Leenart, J.P. Morgan’s Regional Head for Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.

Latter will work jointly with Marc Hussey as co-head of South African operations. Hussey heads Corporate Banking for JP Morgan Chase in South Africa. Latter and Hussey will both report to Leenart.

Last October, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase’s CEO, said the bank plans to increase its presence in more African countries to spur growth after regulators in Ghana and Kenya refused the lender entry. JP Morgan Chase currently has offices only in South Africa and Nigeria.

“We’ll hopefully start opening branches again in Africa,” Dimon said in an interview with Bloomberg. “I’m not doing that because it’s going to affect earnings in the next couple years. I’m doing that because that forms the base for the next generation.”