The growing demand for senior investment bankers in Latin America is driving up compensation levels, especially in Brazil where they can now command premium salaries in excess of their emerging and developed world counterparts.
This year, a top investment banker in Brazil will earn an average $1.7m, according to Options Group, a global recruitment consultancy, twice as much as in China, and 15 per cent more than managing directors in India or the US.
“Healthy investment banking activity, paired with a limited pool of senior bankers with broad and deep local relationships, will keep compensation levels competitive,” said Michael Karp, chief executive of Options Group, a US recruitment company.