EUROPE - Mark Austin, managing director and business manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at JP Morgan's Worldwide Securities Services arm, has left the company.

"Yes, I can confirm he's left," said a spokeswoman. "He's not been replaced." Austin had been with the company since 1994, she added.

The bank recently hired the Bank of New York's UK pensions head Benjie Fraser.

Meanwhile, two UK staff of Dutch securities services supplier KAS Bank have joined rival organisations.

HSBC Securities Services has hired Kate Parker as business development manager for Institutional Fund Services' European pensions segment. "The addition of Kate further strengthens our sales team," said Richard Hale, head of sales, Institutional Fund Services, Europe.

And the Bank of New York has named Ben Kajtazi as senior relationship manager for its UK pensions clients. He will report to Robert Darmanin, head of European custody and pensions.

Darmanin said: "Ben's appointment brings a wealth of experience to the Bank's pensions division and will strengthen our relationship management team by providing our pensions customers with the high levels of service they have come to expect from us."