BNP Paribas Adds Three for Debt

BNP Paribas has hired three senior bankers for its US syndicated loan and leveraged finance teams as part of a drive to hire at least 130 people to its fixed-income group globally this year.

Greg Paul joins the French bank's New York office as head of leveraged finance for media and telecoms companies, reporting to Kathryn Swintek, head of US leveraged finance. Paul previously worked in corporate finance and media investment banking at Bankers Trust and most recently spent six years at Deutsche Bank.

Swintek said Paul's arrival will support BNP Paribas' capabilities in the cable, satellite and telecoms sectors as well as help the bank to "expand our presence in broadcasting, publishing and theatre exhibition".

The hires also include former JP Morgan Chase bankers Patricia Bril and Thomas Bailey for loan syndication, trading and placement for the Americas, a team co-headed by Bucky Khan and Dan Whalen.

Bril, who spent 20 years at JP Morgan, joins as head of the high-grade loans team, while Bailey becomes head of ratings advisory within the US loan group. He previously worked in the leveraged finance and European emerging markets rating advisory group at JP Morgan in London.

The hires come after Jacques d'Estais, global head of fixed income at BNP Paribas, unveiled plans to grow the team by 10%. The French bank has already hired several bankers since the start of the year, and the hiring is expected to focus on growth areas in the US and Europe.