Weekly FiX: Dazed and confused
HVB embarks on hiring spree
HVB – part of the UniCredit markets and investment bank – has embarked on a hiring spree to beef up its FX sales force. New recruits include Paul McErlain, who joins from hedge fund BlueCrest; Russell Thomas, who joins from NAB London; Malcolm Keys, who has come from Calyon Hong Kong; and Guenter Grimm, who recently left JPMorgan and will start on Monday.
McErlain will run hedge fund sales in New York, while Thomas and Keys will be based in London and Hong Kong respectively. Grimm will manage real money accounts for Europe. All four report to Steve Turner, the banks global head of hedge fund sales, and Kenan Altunis, global head of FX distribution. Market sources suggest that more appointments are likely as HVB beefs up its FX operations.
HSBC loses two but gain one
HSBC has seen a couple of senior sales people leave this week. Claus Skrumsager, who was head of corporate sales, is rumoured to have departed. As yet, his destination is unknown. Paul Absalom, head of hedge fund and central bank sales, left HSBC Hong Kong on Monday. It is believed he is going to set up a hedge/distressed fund in Australia. Meanwhile, Carole Stott, who worked in FX covering UK corporates and debt capital markets at Deutsche Bank, is believed to be heading to HSBC London.
Aziz McMahon heads to Goldmans
The splendid Aziz McMahon has left his local market sales role at ABN Amro London to go, it is believed, to Goldman Sachs. McMahon is highly regarded; his initial role at ABN was as a strategist, and a former colleague describes him as one of that rare breed who both knows his stuff and is able to get on with clients. He is believed to be headed to Goldman Sachs, where he is predicted to be a great addition to its sales team.
Barcap adds an Orr
Paige Orr is another to exit Deutsche Bank, which sometimes resembles a training college for the rest of the FX market. Orr used to run Deutsche’s banks desk in FX sales. He is off to join Barclays Capital as joint head of continental institutional sales, where he will report to Richard Longmore, managing director, head of European FX sales.
Dresdner appoints head of FX options in NY
Dresdner Kleinwort has announced it is hiring Ira Koyner as head of FX options in New York. He joins from RBS Greenwich Markets after 10 years. Koyner will report locally to Joe Craven, head of FX and local markets North America and globally to Ian Robertson, global head of FX and local markets.
FXMarketSpace hires the world and his brother ahead of imminent launch
FXMarketSpace, the CME/Reuters joint venture, has added so many people this week, it’s a good job we’re not restricted to the printed page. Tom Koslowske joins from ABN Amro in New York as a vice-president, sales. Noel Singh comes from Dresdner Kleinwort and gets the same role in London.
Iain Bonner-Fomes also joins the London team from Charles River Development, where he was a hedge fund consultant to the buy-side community. FXMarketSpace has also appointed three new account managers of customer solutions. Tamara Miles joins its New York office from ABN, as does Ash Zenhom, who is coming over from LavaFX. Avtar Sian joins the London team from 50% parent CME. Finally, Jacklyn Fennessey is joining as a marketing specialist, while Wilmer Correa takes up the position of project manager, operations.
Nylon Capital gets two
Although they won’t confirm it, Nylon Capital has reportedly made two hires. Manny Mifsud joins from Tribeca, which he left late last year, while Patrick Hall, who left SemperMacro in February with various cohorts, is also believed to have come on board. I once worked with Alan Burnell, one of Nylon’s founders, before he became a big cheese and master of the universe. He ran the forward Paris book briefly at Midland, while I did spot. I spoke to him briefly in December, but he doesn’t remember me.
Bobby Maiti leaves ING
Heading on opposite directions, Bobby Maiti, a director, with a focus on UK corporates has left ING and been replaced by Graham Williams. Williams will now work with Gerald Kopecky on UK corporates. Both will report to Emryc Kpenou, head of FX and money market sale.
Udo left DB
Deutsche Bank has confirmed that Udo Marten, who worked as a director in foreign exchange sales in the bank’s London office, has left them. Where he will go is, as yet, unknown.
Lehmans supposedly get Peck
Stuart Peck is believed to be leaving Morgan Stanley, where he has been vice-president of FX sales to join Lehman Brothers in a similar role.
JPM loses in FX sales
Martina Scheilbelauer has apparently left JPMorgan for an unknown destination.
NAB NY loses chief dealer?
Dave Hannigan is rumoured to have left National Australia Bank New York, where he was chief dealer. The bank has declined to comment, and it is not yet known where he is off to.
