(Reuters) -J.P. Morgan has hired Anthony Diamandakis as the vice chair of its strategic investors group as it ramps up its push to strengthen ties with asset managers and financial sponsors, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Thursday.

Diamandakis was most recently a top dealmaker at Citigroup, where he spent nearly 11 years. Prior to that, he also had a 17-year stint at Credit Suisse.

J.P. Morgan's efforts to bolster its ranks by bringing on an industry veteran underscore its sharpened focus on an influential client base.

Financial sponsors such as private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and family offices control trillions in deployable capital and are driving some of the biggest deals globally.

Diamandakis will report to Avery Whidden, global head of infrastructure and strategic investors group at J.P. Morgan, the memo said.