Who's still hiring investment bankers?
In this market, anyone who knows where a vacancy is located is playing it close to their chest for fear of being either deluged either with the CVs of redundant bankers, or bombarded with calls from desperate recruitment agents. Through a combination of wheedling, research, and intuition we have, however, come up with the following list of organizations which may possibly still be adding headcount. And they are...
What: A London based FIG boutique.
Grounds for hiring hope: Fenchurch's website says it welcomes 'applications from individuals who already have corporate finance experience and a good understanding of the UK FIG sector.' Founder and head of Fenchurch Malik Karim says they are "inundated with unsolicited applications at all levels," but that, "we continue to look for exceptionally talented investment bankers who are capable of making the transition to the independent advisory sector".
Quattro Partners
What: An advisory and capital markets boutique set up at the end of last year by Michael Tory, Lehman's former head of UK investment banking. It's already hired Benoit d'Angelin, a former head of European investment banking at Lehman Brothers.
Grounds for hiring hope: We haven't actually spoken to Quattro Partners, but two recruiters confirm that they are hiring 'partners and managing partners.'
What: A mid-market Chicago-founded advisory boutique which opened a London office in January 2008. Focuses on three areas: M&A, advising pension schemes and providing debt advice. Started with a team of eight, four of whom came from Chicago and two of whom came from Close Brothers. Hired from Houlihan Lokey in August and from Cavendish Corporate Finance in October.
Grounds for hiring hope: Darren Redmayne, managing director and CEO of the London office says they are hiring at the junior end for the pensions area and at the senior end for debt advisory. They have, however, finished hiring for M&A, although associate level hires may do both pensions work and M&A.
What: An advisory firm set up by Ken Moelis, former joint head of global investment banking at UBS. Moelis opened a London office last year and hired ex-Deutsche banker Kristian Bagger as its head. We reported that they were hiring in London back in September, since which time they have announced various senior US hires, but none in Europe.
Grounds for hiring hope: One headhunter working on a Moelis remit says they're still looking for managing partners and partners in London.
Qatalyst Partners
What: An advisory firm set up by former Credit Suisse technology banker Frank Quattrone and specializing in the tech sector.
Grounds for hiring hope: Qatalyst Partners doesn't actually have a London office yet, but announced in February that it's opening one, headed by Jean Tardy-Joubert, formerly Head of Merrill Lynch's European tech group. We can only assume that further hiring will ensue.
And more generally...
Julia Tustian, M&A consultant at recruitment firm Shepherd Little, says 'five banks/boutiques' are looking for analysts and associates in FIG, pharma and healthcare. She wouldn't tell us which ones, however.
