(Bloomberg) -- Jonathan Nadler, a Paris-based banker at JPMorgan Chase & Co., has taken a sabbatical from the U.S. firm to help French far right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour in his campaign.

The associate has taken a 6-month leave, but is staying as part of the bank’s workforce, a JPMorgan spokeswoman said by phone. “He is operating in a personal capacity, in which JPMorgan has no involvement,” she said. 

A representative for Zemmour wasn’t immediately available to comment or put Bloomberg in contact with Nadler. Calls to his landline at JPMorgan weren’t immediately returned. 

French Firebrand Zemmour Announces He’s Running for President (1)

On Monday, Zemmour announced in a video that he will be running for president in France’s election next year, ending months of speculation. The candidate, who’s been sanctioned for inciting racial hatred and partly styles himself on anti-establishment figures such as Donald Trump, is polling behind incumbent president Emmanuel Macron, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and potential conservative candidate Xavier Bertrand.

Nadler, a junior banker with about five years of experience, is helping Zemmour’s team set the key points of his platform, particularly on economic policies, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.