Mayor Alvin Brown’s London quest to recruit jobs included a Thursday meeting with officials of Deutsche Bank, which already has created at least 1,400 financial services jobs in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, Jaguars President Mark Lamping and the other delegates also took part, he said.
Asked whether the Germany-based bank has shared information about its anticipated major Jacksonville consolidation and expansion, Brown said no.
“They did not make a statement about any indication of when they are going to do it,” Brown said Thursday in a phone call from London, about 10 p.m. there.
He said Jacksonville delegates met with Deutsche Bank in the morning.
“The meeting went extremely well,” Brown said. “It was very good to hear them talk about their investment in Jacksonville.”
Brown said the bank, which has a major presence in London, was specific about its confidence in Jacksonville.
“They believe in Jacksonville,” he said. “Jacksonville provides them the best talent, a skilled workforce. It’s a great city with a good quality of life that will attract and retain their current employees and future employees.”
Deutsche Bank has long been expected to create up to 5,000 jobs in Jacksonville.
The Southbank JEA site was one of the sites under review, but that property could soon be in the hands of developers Peter Rummell and Mike Balanky for development as the health-oriented Healthy Town community.
Rummell has said he understands the Deutsche Bank consolidation could grow to 4,000-5,000 jobs.
Deutsche Bank is expected to focus on a Southside site for the growth. It already leases most of the Meridian Business Park along Gate Parkway and several other buildings, totaling at least 300,000 square feet of office space.
The delegates are in London for the week to recruit jobs before the Jaguars play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Leslie Slover, Deutsche Bank regional head of Jacksonville and Cary, N.C., also is on the trip.
Brown said the meeting with Deutsche Bank was significant.
“The whole focus is we wanted to hear from the management of their perspectives of Jacksonville and they wanted to hear from us as mayor and business leaders,” he said.
Deutsche Bank opened the Jacksonville Global Business Service Centre in July 2008.
Speaking of Khan, Brown said he hasn’t talked to him about the proposal expected for the Shipyards Downtown.
“I know it’s a top priority for him,” Brown said.
Brown said he doesn’t have a timeframe about receiving the proposal from Khan to redevelop the Northbank riverfront property owned by the city.
“I know he is going to be doing something in the future,” Brown said.
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