Margaret Cannella

These are testing times for Margaret Cannella, JPMorgan’s director of North American credit research: regulators are snapping at her heels and the $55 billion merger with Bank One is imminent. Dalia Fahmy finds out how one of the most respected figures on the Street is tackling these challenges

It’s just after 7am on a Tuesday morning, and Margaret Cannella, director of North American credit research at JPMorgan, has been in her office lifting weights for an hour. In 10 minutes, she’ll be leading a pack of analysts and salespeople into a cramped room for a brisk morning meeting, then gearing up for 13 hours of research presentations, compliance updates and client briefings. For Cannella, it’s just another day at work.

“Margaret is the embodiment of cold fusion. I know it’s not supposed