JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has hired Jeremy Cape to help grow its aviation investments within its global transportation group.

In the newly created executive director role, Cape will be responsible for the origination, underwriting, due diligence and transaction execution of aviation investments for the $130bn JP Morgan Global Alternatives business.

Andrian Dacy, the head of global transportation, said: “Investors seeking alternative sources of yield have begun to embrace the multi-trillion global transport market opportunity. Given their favourable economic and market fundamentals, aviation investments can offer the prospect of enhanced risk-adjusted yields with low correlation to equities and bonds.

“As clients increase their allocations to global transport, we are adding resources like Jeremy with deep transportation sector experience and a proven industry acquisition track record.”

Anton Pil, the managing partner of JP Morgan Global Alternatives said: “As clients grapple with rising rates and increasing volatility, we continue to invest in and build out one of the industry’s broadest spectrums of differentiated alternative investment opportunities, including transportation, infrastructure and other real asset strategies.

“These investments in our alternative platforms enhance our ability to provide clients with solutions that can offer low correlations to public markets, counter-cyclical performance, high-income yields backed by long-term contracts, enhanced downside resilience, and a measure of inflation protection.”

Cape joins from Aercap, an independent global aircraft lessor, where he spent more than seven years. In 2007 he joined Aircastle as senior vice president and head of risk, and in 2011 International Lease Finance Corporation (since acquired by AerCap) as vice president of origination responsible for Europe and the Americas.

He started his career at JP Morgan in the investment bank, followed by equity research where he was a member of the team responsible for covering airlines in North and South America.

Cape will be based in London office and reports to Dacy.