NEW YORK, Sept 11 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase ( JPM )

appointed Francisco Abularach and Michael Johnson as its new

global co-heads of infrastructure investment banking, according

to a memo seen by Reuters on Thursday.

The move comes as dealmaking picks up in the sector.

Infrastructure private equity coverage is an important strategic

growth area for the bank, according to the memo.

Abularach joined the largest U.S. lender in July after 26

years at Citigroup. Johnson has been with the bank for seven

years, and was previously a vice chair of investment banking,

focused on clients in natural resources.

"Through this new leadership structure, we have an exciting

path forward in this important sector to strengthen our position

and deepen our support for infrastructure clients," Avery

Whidden, global head of infrastructure, said in the memo.

The two new co-heads will be reporting to Whidden.

JPMorgan ( JPM ) advised EQT Infrastructure and Zayo on an $8.5 billion

deal earlier this year. It also advised Antin Infrastructure on

an equity recapitalization of Origis Energy of more than $1

billion.

Investment banking revenue at JPMorgan ( JPM ) is expected to grow in a

low double-digit percentage in the third quarter after "one of

the busiest summers in a long time," Doug Petno, its co-CEO of

commercial and investment banking, told investors on Tuesday.

The resurgent activity has also led to a spate of hiring across

Wall Street. JPMorgan ( JPM ) has added over a hundred managing

directors this year, a source said.

JPMorgan ( JPM ) also hired Stuart McIntyre, who will join the firm as a

managing director in its North America infrastructure investment

banking group. He was most recently at Citi, leading coverage of

infrastructure investors and their portfolio companies, and also

worked at Barclays.

Mergers and acquisitions are expected to continue fueling

investment banking activity this year, Petno said. Big initial

public offerings are back and performing well, equity capital

markets will probably remain robust and deal pipelines look

good, he added.