Filippo Gori, co-head of Global Banking at J.P. Morgan, recently offered a candid look into his distinctive career trajectory, revealing a path less traveled from a history enthusiast in rural Tuscany to a top executive at one of the world’s largest financial institutions. His insights, shared on a special episode of the “Masters in Business” podcast with Barry Ritholtz, highlight a journey marked by academic detours, geographical shifts, and a serendipitous entry into finance.
From Academia to Global Finance
Gori’s academic background initially pointed away from the financial markets. Growing up in rural Tuscany, his primary passion was history. He graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s of Science in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan, specializing in economic history. However, a career in banking was “absolutely not the plan,” as he stated on the podcast. He initially envisioned pursuing a PhD in economic history, a path that led him to teach Italian as a foreign language and classical civilization in North Yorkshire, England, for a couple of years.
His entry into J.P. Morgan in 1999 was, by his own account, a matter of “pure chance.” He applied to the firm and has “never left since then.” This pivotal moment marked a significant departure from his academic aspirations, setting him on a course that would eventually lead him to the pinnacle of global banking.
Early Days at a Transforming J.P. Morgan
Gori joined J.P. Morgan during a period of transformation, pre-merger with Chase. He described the firm then as a “tiny” global institution of approximately 15,000 people, a stark contrast to its current workforce of 330,000. At the time, J.P. Morgan had “lost the coveted AAA rating back in the middle of the nineties” and was seen as a “tier-two, if not tier-three, institution.”
His initial role was within a graduate program called Internal Consulting Services, designed to hire individuals with “the most diverse of backgrounds.” Gori’s rotations included asset management and client relationship management (CRM). A unique opportunity arose when the Milan office needed an analyst for FX sales, leading to his transfer. He recounted the interview as simply, “do you know one plus one?” Following the merger, he returned to London, moved into derivatives, and “grew up on the markets side of the business.”
The Global Odyssey: London, Hong Kong, New York
Gori’s career at J.P. Morgan has been defined by significant international experience. After starting in London, a planned move to New York in 2012 was unexpectedly derailed by the “London Whale” incident, which led to the decision for him to “stay put.” However, a year later, an opportunity arose to move to Hong Kong. Despite never having visited Hong Kong or even Asia, the decision was swiftly made, largely influenced by his wife’s enthusiasm for the move.
He spent 13 years in Hong Kong, where he experienced a humorous cultural adjustment. Due to the local pronunciation of his name and surname, “Filippo Gori” often sounded like “Philip O’Gorey,” leading people to expect an Irish or Scottish individual rather than an Italian. This period in Asia provided him with extensive exposure to “just about every aspect there is when it comes to commercial, corporate and investment banking around the world.” He recently relocated to New York, continuing his global leadership role.
Filippo Gori’s journey underscores the value of diverse backgrounds and adaptability in the demanding world of global finance. His narrative, from a budding historian to a co-head of Global Banking at J.P. Morgan, illustrates how unexpected turns and a willingness to embrace new challenges can shape a distinguished career at the highest levels of the industry.
