Macquarie Group, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services, opened its global financial services center in Jacksonville , Florida. The company is expected to create more than 120 new jobs over the next two years.

Patrick Upfold, CFO of Macquarie Group, said “We are thrilled to now be able to call Jacksonville home for our expanding company. The talent we have already secured from Jacksonville is top-notch, and it reiterates what we already know about Northeast Florida – Jacksonville’s rich talent pool, incredible quality of life and downtown growth provide us the key ingredients to continue growing our operations in the U.S.”

The expansion was made possible through partnerships between the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, JAXUSA, the City of Jacksonville and Enterprise Florida.

Bill Johnson, President/CEO of Enterprise Florida, said, “Florida’s financial services industry is one of the top in the country, and so it’s no surprise that great companies like Macquarie Group are expanding here.”

Governor Rick Scott said, “I met with Macquarie last year at their U.S. headquarters in New York about their growth in Florida. It’s exciting that they have chosen Jacksonville over nearly 20 other locations as the best place to grow their business. By creating the new $250 million dedicated Florida Enterprise Fund and cutting $1 billion in taxes, Florida can continue to help more businesses expand and create jobs in our state.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “The Macquarie Group is a wonderful addition to Florida’s financial services market, and the company’s plans to grow in North Florida will provide great job opportunities for financial professionals. DEO is committed to supporting pro-growth initiatives like the creation of the $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund to encourage businesses like the Macquarie Group to invest in Florida and provide needed jobs.”

“Macquarie choosing to invest in Jacksonville is another prime example of the region’s strength in the financial services industry. The company makes it 13 major banks and investment services firms on Forbes’ Global 500 list with a presence here in Jacksonville. That speaks volumes about the business climate here and that Macquarie is confident it can find the high-quality workforce here it needs to be successful,” said Mark Frisch, Chair of JAXUSA Partnership.