JP Morgan Chase launches 'lean and mean' geopolitical think tank led by Derek Chollet

JP Morgan Chase has launched the JPMorgan Chase Center for Geopolitics (CfG), a new client advisory service aimed at helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex and volatile global environment. The center will be led by seasoned U.S. foreign policy expert Derek Chollet and will draw on insights from a network of geopolitical and business advisors both inside and outside the firm. It aims to provide strategic guidance, data-driven analysis, and forward-looking insights on major global developments, including the impact of artificial intelligence, shifting global supply chains, U.S.-China tensions, and geopolitical challenges in Europe and the Middle East.

“In today’s world, business leaders must navigate rising global competition, disruptive technologies, economic uncertainty and proliferating geopolitical crises,” said JP Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon. “CfG will help our clients meet this moment by providing strategic vision and tested experience.”

Chollet, who has served in senior roles across the Pentagon, State Department, White House, and Congress, said the center is designed to help clients make well-informed decisions that enhance their strategic positioning. “Leveraging the full force of JP Morgan Chase uniquely positions us to support clients facing geopolitical headwinds and emerging opportunities,” he noted. Calling it "lean and mean" initiative, Chollet told Fortune that the centre is aimed at addressing a growing demand from clients. “This is a demand-driven exercise, for sure,” he said.

What JP MorganChase Center for Geopolitics will do
CfG’s initiatives will include timely reports, webinars, and in-person engagements to help clients understand and react to key global events. The first set of reports explore topics such as:

• The new geopolitical “chessboard” of the Middle East
• A global rearmament push and challenges facing the U.S. defense sector
• The strategic crossroads for Europe amid a prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict

The center will also feature contributions from influential figures like Condoleezza Rice, Tony Blair, and Paul Ryan, who are part of the firm’s International Council. In a video series titled “If you had to choose one…”, Chollet will host conversations with these leaders, with the inaugural episode featuring Blair.

“Geopolitics is no longer a side issue for business—it’s central to every boardroom discussion,” said Josh Bolten, CEO of Business Roundtable. “This is a timely and astute initiative to help CEOs navigate a fast-evolving global landscape.”

The launch reflects JP Morgan Chase’s broader strategy of embedding geopolitical intelligence into its global client services, recognizing that strategic business decisions increasingly require deep understanding of world affairs and power dynamics.