JPMorgan Hires Activism Defense Expert Amid Surge in Shareholder Campaigns

JPMorgan Chase is bolstering its global shareholder engagement practice by hiring Amy Lissauer, a veteran adviser to companies facing pressure from activist investors. The bank announced that Lissauer will join as the global head of Shareholder Engagement and M&A Capital Markets (SEAMAC) later this year.

Lissauer, who was previously global head of Activism & Raid Defense at Bank of America, will report to Filippo Gori and John Simmons, co-heads of Global Banking. The move comes as activist investors have stepped up their campaigns against global companies in the first half of 2026, with calls for businesses to sell themselves emerging as the most common demand.

Lissauer's expertise in activism defense has been in high demand, and she has advised several prominent companies under attack from hedge funds. At JPMorgan, she will lead a team that works closely with corporate clients facing pressure from activist investors.